ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the aspects of describing particle form, in particular, the angularity, roundness and surface texture. Attention is given to the role of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the way in which this instrument can also be used to help characterise other sedimentological properties of soils. A common reaction of a geomorphologist, sedimentologist or pedologist on first examining a soil is to determine its particle size distribution. The sedimentological nature of soil components may help determine pedological characteristics, for example with respect to permeability and in situ weathering. Photographs of grains taken with the SEM allow a subjective characterisation of surface texture; the least easily quantifiable component of particle form. Progress in common area is rapid and there are strong links between geotechnical, sedimentological and pedological investigations with various means of quantifying micrographs likely to provide an increasingly important common ground.
