Particle-Size-Distribution of Nevada Test Site Soils Page: 3 of 25
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Particle-Size-Distribution of Nevada Test Site Soils
Gregory D. Spriggs
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, AX-Division, MS L-030
7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA 94551
spriisl(illnl.2ov, (925) 423-8862
Atasi Ray-Maitra
Manager, WQC Lab, Environmental Research Laboratory
Department of Soil Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona
2601 E. Airport Drive, Tucson, AZ-85706
atasi(aA2.arizona.edu (520) 626-2034
INTRODUCTION
The amount of each size particle in a given soil is called the particle-size
distribution (PSD), and the way it feels to the touch is called the soil texture.
Sand, silt, and clay are the three particle sizes of mineral material found in soils.
Sand is the largest sized particle and it feels gritty; silt is medium sized and it feels
floury; and clay is the smallest and if feels sticky.
Knowing the particle-size distribution of a soil sample helps to understand many
soil properties such as how much water, heat, and nutrients the soil will hold, how fast
water and heat will move through the soil, and what kind of structure, bulk density and
consistence the soil will have.
Furthermore, the native particle-size distribution of the soil in the vicinity of
ground zero of a nuclear detonation plays a major role in nuclear fallout. For soils that
have a high-sand content, the near-range fallout will be relatively high and the far-range
fallout will be relatively light. Whereas, for soils that have a high-silt and high-clay
content, the near-range fallout will be significantly lower and the far-range fallout will be
significantly higher.
As part of a program funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA),
the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has recently measured the PSDs
from the various major areas at the Nevada Test Site where atmospheric detonations
and/or nuclear weapon safety tests were performed back in the 50s and 60s. The purpose
of this report is to document those results.
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Spriggs, G & Ray-Maitra, A. Particle-Size-Distribution of Nevada Test Site Soils, report, September 17, 2007; Livermore, California. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc899504/m1/3/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.