Soil sampling

Source: Center of expertise in environmental analysis of Quebec

Table 1 : Main types of samplers of soils 

Material GENERAL APPLICATION ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES
Shovel & trowel Soil in low depth (0-1 m) or in a trench Easy to use, very easily available, collection of a sample redrafted.
Manuel auger Soil in low depth (0-1 m) Easy to use, collection of a sample redrafted, little usable in compacts & rocky soils
Smapling tube Soil in low depth(0-0,5 m) or in a trench Easy to use, little costly, low redistribution of the soil(desirable for volatile compound), limited volume of soil, hard to use in compacts & rocky soils.
Slotted carrotier

Generally used with drilling equipment

(0 m – roc)

 Little redistribution of the sample, allows the use of sleeves to help maintain the integrity of the sample, enduring, usable in compacts soils, allows sampling continuously
Thin wall tube(Shelby)

Generally used with drilling equipment

Clay soil & silty

(0 m – roc)

 Un-drafted sampling, can be used for transportation to the laboratory, allows sampling continously, not useful on rocky soils.
Coror of hollow augers

Used with a drill to hollow augers

Clay soil & silty

(0 m – roc)

 Un-drafted sampling, ease-up continuous sampling on clay & silty soils, not useful on rocky soils.

Corer for rotative drills

Soil and stone

Use only with rotative drills

 Allows sampling of formation of soils containing blocks, ease-up continous sampling, the fluids of sampling can altered the sampling, corrers to triple walls can minimize the problem.

This table does not constitut an exhaustive list of types of samplers of soils