This definition is intentionally ambiguous to support the multiple thresholds set by different authorities.The distinction between silt and clay varies by discipline. Geologists and soil scientists usually consider the separation to occur at a particle size of 2 μm (clays being finer than silts), sedimentologists often use 4–5 μm, and colloid chemists use 1 μm. Geotechnical engineers distinguish between silts and clays based on the plasticity properties of the soil, as measured by the soils' Atterberg limits. ISO 14688 grades clay particles as being smaller than 2 μm and silt particles as being larger. Mixtures of sand, silt and less than 40% clay are called loam. Similar mixtures with greater than 40% clay are often considered clay soils.
Raw data
rdfs:comment
This definition is intentionally ambiguous to support the multiple thresholds set by different authorities.The distinction between silt and clay varies by discipline. Geologists and soil scientists usually consider the separation to occur at a particle size of 2 μm (clays being finer than silts), sedimentologists often use 4–5 μm, and colloid chemists use 1 μm. Geotechnical engineers distinguish between silts and clays based on the plasticity properties of the soil, as measured by the soils' Atterberg limits. ISO 14688 grades clay particles as being smaller than 2 μm and silt particles as being larger. Mixtures of sand, silt and less than 40% clay are called loam. Similar mixtures with greater than 40% clay are often considered clay soils.
rdfs:comment
This definition is intentionally ambiguous to support the multiple thresholds set by different authorities.The distinction between silt and clay varies by discipline. Geologists and soil scientists usually consider the separation to occur at a particle size of 2 μm (clays being finer than silts), sedimentologists often use 4–5 μm, and colloid chemists use 1 μm. Geotechnical engineers distinguish between silts and clays based on the plasticity properties of the soil, as measured by the soils' Atterberg limits. ISO 14688 grades clay particles as being smaller than 2 μm and silt particles as being larger. Mixtures of sand, silt and less than 40% clay are called loam. Similar mixtures with greater than 40% clay are often considered clay soils.
Do not oversimplify the particulate environmental material subclasses with design patterns or similar. The materials have properties that their components do not - write full definitions including these where possible.
obo_purl:IAO_0000115
Particulate environmental material which 1) is composed primarily of clay particles, with only minor proportions of other materials, 2) demonstrates plasticity when wet, and 3) is capable of hardening when dried or fired.
