ASTM_D_4427_-_13.pdf

Designation:D442713Standard Classification ofPeat Samples by Laboratory Testing1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4427;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.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.1.Scope*1.1 This classification is a system for subdividing andassigning nomenclature to peat samples through laboratorytests.1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety problems,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.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D653 Terminology Relating to Soil,Rock,and ContainedFluidsD1997 Test Method for Laboratory Determination of theFiber Content of Peat Samples by Dry MassD2974 Test Methods for Moisture,Ash,and Organic Matterof Peat and Other Organic SoilsD2976 Test Method for pH of Peat Materials(Withdrawn2013)3D2980 Test Method for Volume Mass,Moisture-HoldingCapacity,and Porocity of Saturated Peat MaterialsD3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for AgenciesEngaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock asUsed in Engineering Design and Construction3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of common technical termsin this standard,refer to Terminology D653.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 absorbencythe amount of water by mass that can beheld by the peat.This amount is expressed in terms of thewater-holding capacity as measured using Test Method D2980.3.2.2 acidityexpressed as the pH of the peat in water asmeasured using Test Method D2976.3.2.3 ash contentthe percentage by dry mass of materialremaining after the oven dry peat is burned,using the methodsdescribed in Test Methods D2974.3.2.4 botanical compositionthe dominant plant genus,genera,or informal plant group identified by visual observationas comprising a portion of the fiber in the peat.3.2.5 fiber contentthe dry mass of fibers remaining afterwet sieving over a No.100(150-m)sieve.Fiber content isexpressed as a percentage of the original dry mass,using themethod described in Test Method D1997.4.Significance and Use4.1 The purpose of this classification is to standardize thenaming of peat materials so that the peat-producer can betteridentify the product and the peat-consumer can better selectpeat materials to meet requirements.This system may also beused for peat resource evaluations,environmental impactreports,and preliminary engineering studies.The parametersselected for use in this classification are ones which have beendeterminedtorelatetotheagricultural/horticultural,geotechnical,and energy uses of peats.NOTE1The quality of the result produced by this standard isdependent on the competence of the personnel performing it,and thesuitability of the equipment and facilities used.Agencies that meet thecriteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competentand objective testing.Users of this standard are cautioned that compliancewith Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results.Reliableresults depend on many factors;Practice D3740 provides a means ofevaluating some of those factors.5.Sampling5.1 Representative samples of the peat should be used.Thesize and type of sample needed is dependent on the tests to beperformed and the coarseness and moisture content of the peat.When taking the sample,it should be accurately identified andplaced in a sealed container to prevent moisture loss.1This classification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soiland Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.07 on Identificationand Classification of Soils.Current edition approved July 1,2013.Published July 2013.Originally approvedin 1984.Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D4427 07.DOI:10.1520/D4427-13.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced onwww.astm.org.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 6.Basis for Classification6.1 Fiber Content:6.1.1 FibricPeat with greater than 67%fibers.6.1.2 HemicPeat with between 33%and 67%fibers.6.1.3 SapricPeat with less than 33%fibers.NOTE2These fiber content categories may be related to the widelyused field assessment of the degree of humification(H)developed by VonPost.4Fibric corresponds approximately to H1 H3,hemic to H4