Improved method for analysis of the sand, silt and clay content of clayey soils and parent materials

MAR-CO Clay Products Inc.是一家利用天然土壤和骨料等一系列来源生产粘土产品的公司，这些产品已在北美广泛销售。他们的主要产品之一是由昆斯顿页岩制成的配方，昆斯顿页岩是一种富含粘土的软岩。该产品广泛应用于棒球内场准备接球箱、投手丘和基地跑道表面的应用。虽然用于建造和维护内场剥皮区域的土壤材料的组成规格各不相同，但理想的混合料应由50%至75%的沙子和25%至50%的粘土和粉土组成。MAR-CO Clay为该行业提供了一种通过粉碎昆斯顿页岩而生产的产品，被广泛认为是优越的。然而，按照商业土壤测试实验室使用的标准方法对这种产品(沙子、粉砂和粘土)的质地进行分析，结果表明，这种产品比特定的土壤材料混合物要粗糙得多。使用这种方法的问题是，由昆斯顿页岩制成的产品是由粘土颗粒组成的，这些粘土颗粒粘合在一起，形成更大的粉砂和沙子大小的颗粒，不易分散。该项目将开发一种严格的方法，用于精确分析用于运动场建设和维护的土壤和土壤母质的质地(砂、粉砂和粘土含量)。这项工作对于公司来说是至关重要的：(I)为分析和报告其土壤产品的质地提供科学的、可验证的方法；(Ii)评估用于生产工程土壤的原材料的潜力；(Iii)在土壤产品生产过程中保持和确保质量控制；以及(Iv)为公司土壤产品提供精确规格。

MAR-CO Clay Products Inc, is in the business of producing clay-based products from a range of sources,including natural soils and aggregate materials, that have been widely marketed in North America. One of theirmain products is a formulation made from Queenston shale, a soft rock rich in clay. The product is widely usedin baseball infield preparation for construction of the catcher box, pitcher's mound and application to thesurfaces of the base running paths. While specifications for the composition of the soil material to be used forconstruction and maintenance of the skinned areas of the infield vary, an ideal mix should consist of between50 and 75 percent sand and 25 to 50 percent clay and silt. This mix specification is typically stated in requeststo suppliers of these soil materials.MAR-CO Clay supplies a product for this industry that is produced by crushing Queenston shale and is widelyregarded as being superior. However, analysis of the texture of this product (% sand, silt and clay) followingstandard methods used by commercial soil testing laboratories shows a much coarser product than the specifiedsoil material mix. The problem with using this method is that the product made from Queenston shale iscomprised of clay particles that are cemented together forming larger silt- and sand-sized particles not easilydispersed.This project will develop a rigorous method for precise analysis of the texture (sand, silt and clay content) ofsoils and soil parent materials used for sports field construction and maintenance. This work is essential for thecompany (i) to provide scientifically-based, verifiable method for analyzing and reporting the texture of theirsoil products; (ii) to assess the potential of raw materials for their use in production of engineered soils; (iii) tomaintain and ensure quality control during production of soil products; and (iv) to provide precise specificationfor company soil products.