ASTM_D_4700_-_15.pdf

Designation:D470015Standard Guide forSoil Sampling from the Vadose Zone1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4700;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThis standard was developed in 1991 and has not undergone a technical revision.Since that time,many other guides and practices were developed in the response to the need for improvedenvironmental exploration methods.There are new guides for Soil and Rock sampling and MechanicalDrilling.New Direct Push and Sonic methods were developed.The revision of this standard will addall the new related standards but there will not be significant additions or deletions to the originalcontent.The user will be directed to the related standards.1.Scope1.1 This guide covers procedures that may be used forobtaining soil samples from the vadose zone(unsaturatedzone).Samples can be collected for a variety of reasonsincluding the following:1.1.1 Stratigraphic description,1.1.2 Hydraulic conductivity testing,1.1.3 Moisture content measurement,1.1.4 Moisture release curve construction,1.1.5 Geotechnical testing,1.1.6 Soil gas analyses,1.1.7 Microorganism extraction,1.1.8 Pore liquid evaluation,or1.1.9 Laboratory chemical analysis identifying contaminanttypes and concentrations within soils.1.2 Guides D6169 on Selection of Soil and Rock SamplingDevices and D6282 on Drilling methods for EnvironmentalSite Characterization provide subsequent supplemental infor-mation to the contents of this standard.1.2.1 Direct Push Soil Sampling(Guide D6282)and SonicDrilling for Site Characterization(Practice D6914)are usedextensively for environmental soil sampling in the Vadosezone.1.3 Subsurface explorations are documented in accordancewith D5434 on Logging of Subsurface Explorations.1.4 Soil core may require processing using Practice D6640on Collection and Handling of Soil Cores for EnvironmentalExplorations.1.5 This guide focuses on methods that provide soil samplesfor chemical analyses of the soil or contained liquids orcontaminants.However,comments on how methods may bemodified for other objectives are included.1.6 This guide does not describe sampling methods forlithified deposits and rocks(for example,sandstone,shale,tuff,granite).1.7 In general,it is prudent to perform all field work with atleast two people present.This increases safety and facilitatesefficient data collection.1.8 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard.The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.1.10 This guide offers an organized collection of informa-tion or a series of options and does not recommend a specificcourse of action.This document cannot replace education orexperience and should be used in conjunction with professionaljudgment.Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in allcircumstances.This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy ofa given professional service must be judged,nor should thisdocument be applied without consideration of a projects many1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rockand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Groundwater andVadose Zone Investigations.Current edition approved Feb.1,2015.Published March 2015.Originallyapproved in 1991.Last previous edition approved in 2006 as D4700 91(2006).DOI:10.1520/D4700-15.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 unique aspects.The word“Standard”in the title of thisdocument means only that the document has been approvedthrough the ASTM consensus process.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D653 Terminology Relating to Soil,Rock,and ContainedFluidsD1452 Practice for Soil Exploration and Sampling by AugerBoringsD1586 Test Method for Penetration Test(SPT)and Split-Barrel Sampling of SoilsD1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils forGeotechnical PurposesD2488 Practice for Description and Identification of Soils(Visual-Manual Procedure)D3550 Practice for Thick Wall,Ring-Lined,Split Barrel,Drive Sampling of SoilsD3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for AgenciesEngaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock asUsed in Engineering Design and ConstructionD4220 Practices for Preserving and Transporting SoilSamplesD5434 Guide for Field Logging of Subsurface Explorationsof Soil a