Use of soil texture analysis to predict subsurface fracturing in glacial tills and other unconsolidated materials

The occurrence of fractures in natural settings varied depending on soil texture and depth was investigated. The probability of fracturing through statistical analysis, which could serve as a useful tool to anticipate and investigate fractures in glacial tills in Ohio were also quantified. Soil textures and fracture depths from 9 field sites and 45 soil pedons were analyzed using statistical and graphical methods. The texture classes of tills predicted to sustain fracturing mainly clay, loam, clay loam, silty clay loam, and silty clay. The depth of glacial tills having observed fractures ranged from 0.5 to 215 ft. The results were useful to explain and document how fractures were created in glacial tills and might be a useful tool for field engineers and geologists allowing them to anticipate fractures in glacial tills in Ohio and beyond.