1	Experimental Methods & Techniques Soil Analysis Lab Procedures
2	Soil Analysis Lab Procedures 1. Visual Examination – Macroscopic Texture: Use the flow chart in the sample field guide to make a visual and manual determination of whether the sediment is silt, sand, clay, loam, or a mixture. This will help you describe the type of sediment and the environment in which it was deposited.
3	Soil Analysis Lab Procedures 1. Visual Examination – Macroscopic Density: Use the Fractionation Testing Method for sorting the sediment in a column of water and describe its various component levels. This involves placing a fixed amount of sediment (the same for each sample you analyze) into a graduated cylinder filled with water, shake it up, watch it settle, and record the approximate percentage of each group of particle sizes separated by the water.
4	Soil Analysis Lab Procedures 1. Visual Examination – Macroscopic Permeability: Use a filter paper to measure the rate at which water seeps through the sediment sample, which is the permeability of the sample. This is useful in characterizing the sediments ability to absorb water (for farming) Place the filter paper over a beaker, include a fixed amount of sediment (same amount for each sample), pour a fixed amount of water through the paper and sediment, and record how long it takes for the water to seep through the sediment.
5	Soil Analysis Lab Procedures 2. Visual Examination – Microscopic Examine your sample under the microscope, draw and describe your observations, especially focusing on the types of inclusions (such as quartz, caliche) and the evidence of biotics (such as seeds, plant materials, and insects). If you can’t identify anything, just draw what you see.
6	Soil Analysis Lab Procedures 3. Color Examination Use the sample field guide to describe the color of the sample. The specific determination of color is used to compare sediments across strata and from different places. The field guide helps avoid variations in color description from person to person.
7	Soil Analysis Lab Procedures 4. Chemical Essay Carbonate Testing: Add drops of hydrochloric acid (HCl) to your sample. If you detect bubbles, that indicates carbonates. Carbonates form from the decomposition of shellfish, and suggest the sediment was from a water environment (lakes, oceans, rivers).
8	Soil Analysis Lab Procedures 4. Chemical Essay Sulfide Testing: At the same time as you test the samples for carbonates (above), smell the sample (carefully!!!). If you detect a “rotten egg” smell, this indicates the presence of sulfides. Sulfides are the result of recent organic decomposition, meaning dead animal flesh in the sediment.
9	Soil Analysis Lab Procedures 4. Chemical Essay pH Testing: Make sure your sediment sample is wet with purified water. Put a strip of pH paper in the water and watch for a color change, then compare it to the guide to tell the pH of the water. The pH describes acidity or alkalinity, and is used to determine the usefulness of the sediment for agriculture.
10	Soil Analysis Lab Procedures 4. Chemical Essay Organic Reduction: [I’ll do this test, just record the results I get] Using the triple balance, measure the weight (mass) of a sample of sediment, then apply heat to the sample, “cooking it,” and measure the sample again, noting the difference in weight before and after. This difference is due to the oxidation of organics, which will cook at low heats. This is called organic mass fractionization
11	Soil Analysis Lab: Sample Results Texture: Sample 1 - sand Sample 2 – clay Density: Sample 1 - Sample 2 – 10% heavy 20% heavy 60% medium 30% medium 30% light 50% light Permeability: Sample 1 - Sample 2 – 60 sec 100 sec
12	Soil Analysis Lab: Sample Results Microscopic Exam: Illustrations Sample 1 – Sample 2 –
13	Soil Analysis Lab: Sample Results Color: Sample 1 - Light Brown Sample 2 - Dark Yellow Carbonate Testing: Sample 1 - negative Sample 2 – positive Sulfide Testing: Sample 1 - negative Sample 2 – negative Ph Testing: Sample 1 – 6 Sample 2 – 7
14	Soil Analysis Lab: Sample Results Organic Reduction: Sample 1 - Sample 2 – start weight = 199.90 g start weight = 175.50 g ending weight = 170.75 g ending weight = 170.00 g
15	Soil Analysis Lab: Sample Results Summary: In our experiment and analysis of the three soil samples, several differences were noted. These include: yada, yada, yada….