Bossier City, Louisiana geotechnical drilling companies specialize in extracting soil and rock samples that can be used to determine ground composition. But what is earth composition, exactly and why is it important? Also, how is ground composition evaluated using geotechnical drilling?

Bossier City area natives may wonder about these and other similar questions, so that’s precisely what we’ll explore in today’s article.

How can you determine it with Geotechnical Drilling?
Bossier City engineers and developers need to understand the ground composition at a current or prospective building site so that they can make informed decisions on how to ensure structural stability and public safety.

Soil composition refers to the layers of soil which overlay the bedrock. Rocks, minerals, wells, oil deposits, gas deposits and underground voids may also be present in the subsurface terrain.

Soil is comprised of four basic components: Minerals, Organic matter, air and water.

The exact ratio of these four components varies dramatically from region to region, as does the precise type of minerals and organic matter. Generally speaking, a majority of the soil is comprised of minerals, with a small percentage of organic matter, and equal parts of air and water.

The amount and type of moisture and organic matter varies from location to location. For example, a forest area will have dense, heavy soil with a high percentage of organic matter and moisture.

Soil composition can vary dramatically amongst the different layers that sit above the bedrock at any given site.

Composition is not the only main variable. Soil also varies in its density and permeability, along with its ability to absorb and hold water. The soil’s density and ability to hold water is affected by the size and shape of the soil grains and the types of minerals and organic matter.

For example, the soil in one area may be comprised of large, irregular particles, with lots of space between the particles for air and water. In another region, the particles may be very fine and uniformly shaped, resulting in very dense soil with tightly-packed particles and little room for water or air between the particles.

The properties of the soil in a particular location can be affected by rainfall, groundwater flows, seasonal changes, climate, plant life, and natural events, such as earthquakes or floods.

Over time, new soil layers are deposited over old layers. So by digging down into the earth, scientists can gain vital insight into a location’s history, including changes in climate and environment.

Geotechnical drilling is used to extract samples from the earth. Some of the samples can be analyzed on-site, while others are sent out to laboratories for more comprehensive analysis.

*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Amdrill Inc*