A soil that forms a long ribbon is likely high in which component?

A soil that forms a long ribbon is likely high in which component?

• A. Clay
• B. Sand
• C. Silt
• D. Gravel

Answer: (A)

A long ribbon forms because the soil has a high clay content. Clay particles are extremely fine and plate-like, so when mixed with a little water they become highly cohesive and plastic. That plastic paste can be rolled or pressed into a continuous strand, which you can pull into a long ribbon. Coarser materials like sand and gravel don’t stick together to form ribbons, and while silt can form some cohesion, it doesn’t produce the long, smooth ribbon that clay does. So a long ribbon is a telltale sign of plenty of clay in the soil.

A long ribbon forms because the soil has a high clay content. Clay particles are extremely fine and plate-like, so when mixed with a little water they become highly cohesive and plastic. That plastic paste can be rolled or pressed into a continuous strand, which you can pull into a long ribbon. Coarser materials like sand and gravel don’t stick together to form ribbons, and while silt can form some cohesion, it doesn’t produce the long, smooth ribbon that clay does. So a long ribbon is a telltale sign of plenty of clay in the soil.