Which condition would most likely classify soil as having high shrink and swell potential?

Study for the Iowa Soil Judging Test. Master soil concepts with interactive questions and detailed explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

The classification of soil with high shrink and swell potential is primarily influenced by the presence of clay minerals, particularly those that have expansive properties, like montmorillonite. Soils that are fine or moderately fine textured and contain a loess layer typically have a greater amount of clay, contributing to higher shrink-swell capacity. When wet, these clay minerals swell as they absorb moisture, and when they dry, they shrink, leading to significant changes in soil volume.

In contrast, coarse sandy soils do not possess the same level of shrink-swell potential because sand particles do not swell when wet, resulting in minimal volumetric changes. Similarly, moderately fine textured soils with a water table can have varying characteristics, but the presence of saturated conditions can limit their capacity to experience dramatic shrink-swell effects. Highly clayey but not fine textured soils might seem plausible for high shrink-swell potential; however, the phrase "not fine textured" can be misleading, as high shrink-swell behavior is typically associated with fine-textured clays rather than coarser clay particles. Thus, fine or moderately fine textured soils juxtaposed with a loess layer are the most indicative of high shrink and swell potential.

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