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Indiana University – Purdue University Fort WayneOpus: Research & Creativity at IPFW2015 IPFW Student Research and CreativeEndeavor Symposium
IPFW Student Research and Creative EndeavorSymposium
3-27-2015
River Sieve Analysis of Soil Samples at Indiana-Purdue University Fort WayneShelby JohnstonIndiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne
Follow this and additional works at: http://opus.ipfw.edu/stu_symp2015
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Recommended CitationJohnston, Shelby, "River Sieve Analysis of Soil Samples at Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne" (2015). 2015 IPFW StudentResearch and Creative Endeavor Symposium. Book 35.http://opus.ipfw.edu/stu_symp2015/35
River Sieve Analysis of Soil Samples at Indiana-Purdue University Fort WayneShelby JOHNSTON, Dr. Solomon ISIORHO
Department of Geology, Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN 46805
Abstract
I. Introduction
II. Methods
Sieve analysis is used in
different industries:
o Industrial and
Chemical work
o Pharmaceutical
Companies
Used here to classify
soil around river based
on grain size and
relative proportions.
Map of sampling area
(samples marked) over
parts of the IPFW
campuses.
Collected 14 samples along creek banks between East & West side.
Dried, crushed, weighed, and sieved samples individually.
Weights taken of wet and dry samples
2000, 500, 250, 63, & 45 micron sieves, plus catch pan.
Calculated percent of sample lost from dry weight and overall
weight from sieves.
III. Results/Discussion
This study is to verify the grain size particle distribution becoming
sorted and rounded as they move downstream along a creek at IPFW.
Sieve analysis was performed on fourteen soil samples that were
collected over the length of the creek. The data shows the water content
and the grain sizes for each sample: average water content was 21.87%
with minimal variation. Soils range from coarse-grain to very fine-grain
sand, but were generally fine-grained sand. Knowing the cause(s) of the
finding of sediments downstream in this river may help in managing
this stream and probably others in NE Indiana.
0.00
20.00
40.00
60.00
80.00
100.00
120.00
140.00
Wie
gh
t in
Gra
ms
Soil Sample Data
Wet Wt. (grams) Dry Wt. (grams)
∆Sample Wt. (grams) Sample Lost (grams)
25.50
10.50 11.20
35.10
40.10
18.10
10.70 11.90 10.30
16.70
28.90
2.60 4.10 2.50
17.80
30.00
17.4013.50
24.90
27.80
12.50
19.30
12.40
23.70
24.70
20.20
7.10 4.403.50
11.40
9.10
7.80 15.30
12.10
5.30
7.20
25.70
15.50
24.20 10.70
10.70
13.80
6.20
4.20
9.70
14.70
15.50
14.10
12.10
4.30
5.40
17.00
10.20
19.80
20.90
16.20
13.60
5.50 15.90
22.30
2.70
1.30
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.70
1.00
0.60
0.50
3.40
2.10
0.40
0.20
1.70
2.30
3.60
1.20
0.30
0.30
0.50
0.30
1.00
0.70
0.40
3.602.20
0.50
0.00
2.70
4.00
86.20
54.70 54.90
85.50
78.80
44.40
76.20
52.20
79.2081.40 82.60
38.39
20.40
30.50
68.20
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
100.00
#1 Pond
E-side
#2 Creek
Start W-
side
#3 E-side #4 W-side #5 E-side #6 W-side #7 W-side #8 W-side#9 W-Side #10 Main
Campus
W-side
#11 W-
side
#12 W-
side
#12.1 W-
side
#13 Creek
End E-
side
#14 River
W-side
WIE
GH
T I
N G
RA
MS
PE
R S
IEV
E
Sieve Analysis Breakdown
2000µ 500µ 250µ 63µ 45µ Bottom Dry Wt. (grams)
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
50.00
Per
cen
t o
f W
ate
r in
Sa
mp
le
Water Content (percentage)
The soil sample data graph shows the variations in wet weights, dry weights, change in sample weights, and
the amount of sample lost. Lost sample can be attributed to dust, traces left on equipment, and human error.
Water content starts just shy of 30% and begins decreasing whereupon it
begins increasing by Sample 6, and back down by Sample 11. This gentle
sloping springs from drains that lead into the creek. Where there is a
higher amount of water flowing into the creek, the overall water content
for those samples increases. Sample 13 isn’t located in a drainage zone,
but is heavily covered in organic materials. Complex root systems in the
soil contribute to higher water content. Sample 13 underwent an ashing
process to remove organic materials before being processed. Due to
furnace malfunctions and human errors, parts of this sample were lost to
melting and fusing to the crucible, however, viable data was still
recovered.
The sieve analysis graph visually shows the makeup of each sample including the weights of each sieve set and compares it to
the overall sample weight. Here it is easy to see the changes in composition per sample and across the board and how each
sample has a higher amount of fine-grained sand than coarse-grained. In the sieve soil analysis graph, one can see the
cumulative weight percent by the sieve size (grain size) in microns to better understand the composition of each sample.
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
100.00
2000 500 250 63 45 0
Cu
mu
lati
ve
Wei
gh
t P
erce
nta
ge
Sieve Siezes (microns)
Sieve Soil Analysis#1 Pond E-side
#2 Creek Start W-
side#3 E-side
#4 W-side
#5 E-side
#6 W-side
#7 W-side
#8 W-side
#9 W-Side
#10 Main Campus
W-side#11 W-side
#12 W-side
#12.1 W-side
#13 Creek End E-
side#14 River W-side
20.88
51.76
65.13
91.2695.51
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
100.00
2000 500 250 63 45 0
Cu
mu
lati
ve W
eigh
t P
erc
en
tage
Sieve Siezes (microns)
Sieve Soil Analysis
#10
Main
Campus
W-side
Overall Composition: Silty-FineGrained Coarse
IV. Conclusions
Given the data collected and results found, it is obvious that the soil
composition changes as you go downstream from a primarily fine and
coarse grained sand to a fine and very fine grained sand with a higher
concentration of clay and silt. From these results, it’s reasonable to
predict other streams in the NE Indiana area might follow the same trend.
This is part of an ongoing project.
V. References
III. Results/Discussion Cont.
VI. Acknowledgements
IPFW Student
Housing
IPFW Main
Campus
3.50
2.50 1.30
3.502.20
4.20
3.20
15.90
15.90
1.70
1.70
2.70
2.70
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
4.00
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
Before Ashing After Ashing
WE
IGH
T (
GR
AM
S)
Sample 13 Breakdown
Sample Lost (grams) 2000µ 500µ 250µ 63µ 45µ Bottom
• USGS OFR 2005-1048: Figure 9. (2005, January 1). Retrieved November 1, 2014,
from http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/pubs/of2005-1048/htmldocs/figures/f9_chart.htm
• Particle Size Distribution Analyses. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2014, from
http://www.particletechlabs.com/sieve-analyses
• Reddy, K. (2002, January 1). Experiment 2: Organic Matter Determination.
Retrieved November 1, 2014, from
http://www.uic.edu/classes/cemm/cemmlab/Experiment 2-Organic Content.pdf
• IPFW Geosciences Department for use of lab equipment
• Dr. Solomon Isiorho
