Soil description

Description ‘N’ Value Term

0<4 Very soft / Soft
4–8 Medium stiff
CLAY 8 – 15 Stiff
15 – 30 Very stiff
< 30 Hard
0 – 10 Loose
10 – 30 Medium dense
SAND
30 – 50 Dense
> 50 Very dense

WETHERING GRADES OF ROCK MASSES

Ref. Table 10 of BS -5930-1981 (CP-2001)

Core Recovery RQD
Term Description
% %
No visible sign of rock material weathering;
FRESH perhaps slight discoloration on major 90 - 100 75 – 100
discontinuity surfaces.
Discoloration indicates weathering of rock
material and discontinuity surfaces. All the
SLIGHTLY WEATHERED 75 - 90 50 – 75
rock material may be discolored by
weathering.
Less than half of the rock material is
MODERATELY decomposed or disintegrated to a soil. Fresh
50 - 75 25 – 50
WEATHERED or discolored rock is present either as a
continuous framework or as core stones.
More than half of the rock material is
decomposed or disintegrated to a soil. Fresh
HIGHLY WEATHERED 10 - 50 00 – 25 (N>100)
or discolored rock is present either as a
discontinuous framework or as core stones.
All rock material is decomposed and / or
COMPLETELY
disintegrated to soil. The original mass 00 - 10 NIL (N>50)
WEATHERED
structure is still largely intact.
All rock material is converted to soil. The
mass structure and material fabric are
NIL
RESIDUAL SOIL destroyed. There is a large change in NIL
(N=10 to 30)
volume, but the soil has not been significantly
transported.