SOIL CORE COLLECTING TOOL AND METHOD

A soil core collector assembly includes a sample tube (1) for receiving a core (16) of soil when fitted to a soil core collecting tool (30), and a core carrying tray (4) nestable in sliding engagement within the sample tube. The assembly can be used in a method of sampling soil including obtaining a core of soil by driving a soil core collecting tool into the earth and collecting the core in the sample tube (1) when the core carrying tray (4) is nested within. The core (16) is removed from the sample tube (1) by sliding it out on the core carrying tray (4). Alternatively, the core (16) is collected in the sample tube (1); the core carrying tray (4) is slid into nesting engagement with the sample tube; and then the core (16) is slid out of the sample tube (1) on the core carrying tray (4).