Soil Profile Color Codes
Soil Profile Color Codes
(OP)
Does anyone know of any standards related to color-coding soil types for representing subsurface profiles (for example blue for clay, yellow for sand, etc.)? I haven't had any luck finding anything. Any input would be much appreciated.
Mike
Mike





RE: Soil Profile Color Codes
We acually just use different hatches, and they are all black and white. Bedrock is more filled in, giving a darker overalll appearance.
RE: Soil Profile Color Codes
O.K. if you don't like that idea, I also trend toward the yellows and browns for sands and gravels and the reds and blues for silts and clays. That said, I have too much fun with this to worry about an official color scheme.
f-d
¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!
RE: Soil Profile Color Codes
Best regards,
DRG
President,
National Colorblind Liberation Front
RE: Soil Profile Color Codes
fatt geologist-turned-engineer dad
¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!
RE: Soil Profile Color Codes
RE: Soil Profile Color Codes
RE: Soil Profile Color Codes
--Note the prominent use of pastel shades, which do not copy or FAX as black.
--Lettering within the color block is readable.
--The colors are 'pleasing to the eye' without harshness.
--Similar rock (or soil) groupings are the same general color and your eye can quickly identify a given type.
Shading, symbols or other markings must not cover other detail or distract the eye too much.
RE: Soil Profile Color Codes
Many DOTs have standard hatch/fill patterns depending on the classification of the soil (or non-soil material). Additionally, there are traditional hatch/fill patterns for many types of soil and rock.
The following link (page 4) shows the symbols used by the Ohio DOT for use in soil profiles:
ht
Typically, the hatching is only shown on the "stick log" for each boring, while lines denoting the approximate boundaries of strata are drawn in between borings. The following file shows an example produced using the IL DOT classification system and hatching:
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Jeff