Reference number : GC-2017-Q4-01851, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Voroney, Paul (University of Guelph), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Ontario, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Engage Grants for universities, program name french : Subventions d'engagement partenarial pour les universités, program purpose english : MAR-CO Clay Products Inc, is in the business of producing clay-based products from a range of sources,_x000D_
including natural soils and aggregate materials, that have been widely marketed in North America. One of their_x000D_
main products is a formulation made from Queenston shale, a soft rock rich in clay. The product is widely used_x000D_
in baseball infield preparation for construction of the catcher box, pitcher's mound and application to the_x000D_
surfaces of the base running paths. While specifications for the composition of the soil material to be used for_x000D_
construction and maintenance of the skinned areas of the infield vary, an ideal mix should consist of between_x000D_
50 and 75 percent sand and 25 to 50 percent clay and silt. This mix specification is typically stated in requests_x000D_
to suppliers of these soil materials._x000D_
MAR-CO Clay supplies a product for this industry that is produced by crushing Queenston shale and is widely_x000D_
regarded as being superior. However, analysis of the texture of this product (% sand, silt and clay) following_x000D_
standard methods used by commercial soil testing laboratories shows a much coarser product than the specified_x000D_
soil material mix. The problem with using this method is that the product made from Queenston shale is_x000D_
comprised of clay particles that are cemented together forming larger silt- and sand-sized particles not easily_x000D_
dispersed._x000D_
This project will develop a rigorous method for precise analysis of the texture (sand, silt and clay content) of_x000D_
soils and soil parent materials used for sports field construction and maintenance. This work is essential for the_x000D_
company (i) to provide scientifically-based, verifiable method for analyzing and reporting the texture of their_x000D_
soil products; (ii) to assess the potential of raw materials for their use in production of engineered soils; (iii) to_x000D_
maintain and ensure quality control during production of soil products; and (iv) to provide precise specification_x000D_
for company soil products., program purpose french : MAR-CO Clay Products Inc, is in the business of producing clay-based products from a range of sources,_x000D_
including natural soils and aggregate materials, that have been widely marketed in North America. One of their_x000D_
main products is a formulation made from Queenston shale, a soft rock rich in clay. The product is widely used_x000D_
in baseball infield preparation for construction of the catcher box, pitcher's mound and application to the_x000D_
surfaces of the base running paths. While specifications for the composition of the soil material to be used for_x000D_
construction and maintenance of the skinned areas of the infield vary, an ideal mix should consist of between_x000D_
50 and 75 percent sand and 25 to 50 percent clay and silt. This mix specification is typically stated in requests_x000D_
to suppliers of these soil materials._x000D_
MAR-CO Clay supplies a product for this industry that is produced by crushing Queenston shale and is widely_x000D_
regarded as being superior. However, analysis of the texture of this product (% sand, silt and clay) following_x000D_
standard methods used by commercial soil testing laboratories shows a much coarser product than the specified_x000D_
soil material mix. The problem with using this method is that the product made from Queenston shale is_x000D_
comprised of clay particles that are cemented together forming larger silt- and sand-sized particles not easily_x000D_
dispersed._x000D_
This project will develop a rigorous method for precise analysis of the texture (sand, silt and clay content) of_x000D_
soils and soil parent materials used for sports field construction and maintenance. This work is essential for the_x000D_
company (i) to provide scientifically-based, verifiable method for analyzing and reporting the texture of their_x000D_
soil products; (ii) to assess the potential of raw materials for their use in production of engineered soils; (iii) to_x000D_
maintain and ensure quality control during production of soil products; and (iv) to provide precise specification_x000D_
for company soil products., agreement title english : Improved method for analysis of the sand, silt and clay content of clayey soils and parent materials, agreement title french : Improved method for analysis of the sand, silt and clay content of clayey soils and parent materials, agreement number : EGP, agreement value : 25000.0, agreement start date : 2018-03-07, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)., additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019)., owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada