How to identify the soil clay or silt at field?

Question

Accepted Answer

Soil clay or silt can be identified by conducting simple field tests such as the ribbon test, feel test, and sedimentation test.

Perform a ribbon test by rolling a small amount of soil between your fingers to determine if it forms a ribbon. Clay soil will form a long, flexible ribbon while silt soil will form a short, weak ribbon.
Conduct a feel test by rubbing a small amount of soil between your fingers to feel the texture. Clay soil will feel sticky and smooth, while silt soil will feel gritty and slippery.
Use a sedimentation test by mixing soil with water in a clear container and allowing it to settle. Clay particles will settle at a slower rate than silt particles, resulting in distinct layers in the container.

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