Obtaining no reaction at all to this test does not indicate a complete absence of silt or fine sand. OH groups usually have a distinctive, musty, slightly offensive odor. With experience, you can use this odor as an aid in identifying these groups. This odor is especially apparent from fresh samples. The odor gradually reduces when exposed to air but can again become effective when you heat a wet sample.
Organic soils are undesirable as foundation or base course material.
They are usually removed from the construction site and wasted. Integrated Publishing's Official Web Page Click here for a current index of everything on this web site. All Rights Reserved.