ABSTRACT
Soil is one of the most important materials in construction. It is one of the most variable materials to consider as it is naturally occurring. The most important elements to consider are: the range of soils, their properties or parameters and what causes variations in values. Soil can be classed into four main groups: Agricultural soil, Engineering soil, Organic soil, Fill or made ground. Rock, is a hard, rigid cemented deposit and is grouped according to how it has been formed. There are three main types of rocks, namely, Igneous rocks, Metamorphic rocks, Metamorphic rocks, Sedimentary rocks. Soil is a collection of solid individual particles forming a porous structure. Mineralogy is the identification of minerals and the study of their properties, origin and classification. The amount of water in a soil has a profound effect on its engineering properties. Optimum moisture content (OMC) varies with the nature of the soil and compaction method.
