ABSTRACT
The terms sediment and soil are used interchangeably, depending on whether the discussion is about engineering or geological. As products of various geological processes, soils are extremely variable mixtures of weathered minerals. Terrestrial sediments are material from the sediment load in rivers, dust storms, and turbidity currents. The physiography of the earth’s surface has been tectonically shaped and modified by sedimentary, erosional, and depositional processes. The high variability of soils is reflected by the wide range of their geophysical, geochemical, and mechanical properties. Soils are conveniently sorted, or classified, into groups showing similar behavior or based on their significant properties. Soil classification has proved to be a valuable tool for the characterization and correlation of soils, and the efficient use and interpretation of both geological and engineering information. Soil classification deals with the categorization of soils based on distinguishing characteristics as well as potential criteria that dictates choices in use.
