12/9/11 Soil analysis Lab We are going to use petri dishes ad magnifying glasses to observe the following characteristics of your soil samples. –General appearance –Color –Acidity –Particle Size

What does soil do? Regulate water Sustain plant and animal life Filter pollutants Cycle material Sustain building structures

General Appearance of soil Unusual material such as vegetation: –Pine needles –Leaves –Roots –Hair –Metal specks –Fibers –Building materials –trash

General Appearance cont Use a direct UV light to look for any particles that may flouresce Certain minerals flouresce –Fluorite –Some calcites –Willmite

Color Soil color is to mineral content and organic matter –Red soil contains rust –Black soil contains organic matter or humus –Humus: the organic part of soil

Monday December 12,2011 AIM: How can we determine if a soil sample at a crime scene matches one of your soil samples? DO NOW: 1- Take out your soil samples lab 2- Get into your groups 3- One person from each group get a text book and turn to pages As a group explain to me how you can test the acidity of a soil sample? HOMEWORK: Text read about Density on pages 94-96

Acidity Soils high in Lime stone are basic Soils with sulfides or sulfates are acidic Place a small amount of soil in a test tube and dip a piece of pH paper in it

Particle size or texture Does your soil have all the same particle sizes Or does your soil have different sizes of particle

NRFeimer12/13/11 Mrs. Naus Soil AnalysisLab Sample # 1 Ms. Holm Location: Front Yard General Appearance: twigs, root hairs, leaves, dirts, small shiny metal pieces, styrofoam Color: Light brown indicating horizon eluviation layer pH: color red, pH=1, acid= more H+ hydrogen ions and less –OH hydroxide ions thereforesoil has sulfates or sulfides in it not limestone Particle size: 1- dirt ranged from small to medium sized particles 2- small shiny metal pieces 3- medium sized styrofoam