Designation: D1452 – 09

Standard Practice for

Soil Exploration and Sampling by Auger Borings1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1452; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This practice covers equipment and procedures for the 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
use of earth augers in shallow depth geotechnical exploration. D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
This practice does not apply to hollow-stem augers. Uses of Fluids
hollow-stem auger drilling methods for geotechnical explora- D1586 Test Method for Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-
tion are addressed in Test Method D6151. Barrel Sampling of Soils
1.2 This practice does not include considerations for geoen- D1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils for
vironmental site characteristics and installation of monitoring Geotechnical Purposes
wells which are discussed in Guide D5784. D2488 Practice for Description and Identification of Soils
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded (Visual-Manual Procedure)
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical D5434 Guide for Field Logging of Subsurface Explorations
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only of Soil and Rock
and are not considered standard. D4750 Test Method for Determining Subsurface Liquid
1.4 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the Levels in a Borehole or Monitoring Well (Observation
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Well)
Practice D6026 unless superseded by this method. D5784 Guide for Use of Hollow-Stem Augers for Geoen-
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the vironmental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the Water-Quality Monitoring Devices
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- Data
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. D6151 Practice for Using Hollow-Stem Augers for Geo-
1.6 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing technical Exploration and Soil Sampling
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
education or experience and should be used in conjunction 3. Terminology
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may 3.1 Definitions: For common definitions of terms in this
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not standard, refer to Terminology D653.
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, 4. Significance and Use
nor should this document be applied without consideration of 4.1 Auger borings often provide the simplest method of soil
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the exploration and sampling. They may be used for any purpose
title of this document means only that the document has been where disturbed samples can be used and are valuable in
approved through the ASTM consensus process. connection with ground water level determination and indica-
tion of changes in strata and advancement of hole for split-
barrel penetration tests and sampling (Test Method D1586) and
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.02 on Sampling and
2
Related Field Testing for Soil Evaluations. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2009. Published March 2009. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1957. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D1452 – 07a. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D1452-09. the ASTM website.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 D1452 – 09
thin-walled tube sampling (Practice D1587). Equipment re- 5.1.3.2 Iwan Type, (Fig. 2(b)) consisting of two tubular steel
quired is simple and readily available. Depths of auger explo- segments, connected at the top to a common member to form
rations are, however, limited by ground water conditions, soil a nearly complete tube, but with diametrically opposed open-
characteristics, and the equipment used. ings. It is connected at the bottom by two radial blades pitched
to serve as cutters which also block the escape of contained
5. Apparatus
soil. Attachment of handle or extension is at the top connector.
5.1 Hand-Operated Augers: 5.2 Machine-Operated Augers:
5.1.1 Helical Augers, (Fig. 1(a)) small lightweight augers
generally available in sizes from 1 through 3 in. (25.4 through 5.2.1 Helical Augers, (Fig. 3(a)) generally 4 through 48 in.
76.2 mm). (101.6 through 1219 mm), consisting essentially of a center
5.1.1.1 Spiral-Type Auger, consisting of a flat thin metal shaft fitted with a shank or socket for application of power, and
strip, machine twisted to a spiral configuration of uniform having one to six complete 360° (6.28-rad) spirals for convey-
pitch; having at one end, a sharpened or hardened point, with ance and storage of cut soil. Cutter bits and pilot bits are
a means of attaching a shaft or extension at the opposite end. available in moderate and hard formation types and normally
5.1.1.2 Ship-Type Auger—Similar to a carpenter’s wood bit. replaceable in the field. They are normally operated by
It is generally forged from steel and machined to the desired heavy-duty, high-torque machines, designed for heavy con-
size and configuration. It is normally provided with sharpened struction work.
and hardened nibs at the point end and with an integral shaft 5.2.2 Stinger Augers, generally 3 through 30 in. (76.2
extending through its length for attachment of a handle or through 762 mm), are similar to the helical auger in 5.2.1, but
extension at the opposite end. lighter and generally smaller. They are commonly operated by
5.1.2 Open Tubular Augers, (Fig. 1(b)) ranging in size from light-duty machines for post and power pole holes.
1.5 through 8 in. (38.1 through 203.2 mm) and having the 5.2.3 Disk Augers, (Fig. 3(b)) generally 10 through 30 in.
common characteristic of appearing essentially tubular when (254 through 762 mm), consisting essentially of a flat, steel
viewed from the digging end. disk with diametrically opposed segments removed and having
5.1.2.1 Orchard-Barrel Type, (Fig. 1(c)) consisting essen- a shank or socket located centrally for application of power.
tially of a tube having cutting lips or nibs hardened and Replaceable cutter bits, located downward from the leading
sharpened to penetrate the formation on one end and an adaptor edges of the remaining disk, dig and load soil that is held on the
fitting for an extension or handle on the opposite end. disk by valves or shutters hinged at the disk in order to close
5.1.2.2 Open-Spiral Type, consisting of a flat thin metal strip the removed segments. The disk auger is specifically designed
that has been helically wound around a circular mandrel to to be operated by machines having limited vertical clearance
form a spiral in which the flat faces of the strip are parallel to between spindle and ground surface.
the axis of the augered hole. The lower helix edges are
5.2.4 Bucket Auger, (Fig. 3(c)) generally 12 through 48 in.
hard-faced to improve wear characteristics. The opposite end is
(304.8 through 1219 mm), consisting essentially of a disk
fitted with an adaptor for extension.
auger, without shank or socket, but hinge-mounted to the
5.1.2.3 Closed-Spiral Type—Nearly identical to the open-
spiral type except the pitch of the helically wound spiral is bottom of a steel tube or bucket of approximately the same
much less than that of the open-spiral type. diameter as the disk auger. A socket or shank for power
5.1.3 Post-Hole Augers, generally 2 through 8 in. (50.8 application is located in the top center of the bucket diametral
through 203.2 mm), and having in common a means of cross piece provided for the purpose.
blocking the escape of soil from the auger. 5.3 Casing (when needed), consisting of pipe of slightly
5.1.3.1 Clam-Shell Type, (Fig. 2(a)) consisting of two larger diameter than the auger used.
halves, hinged to allow opening and closing for alternately 5.4 Accessory Equipment—Labels, field log sheets, sample
digging and retrieving. It is not usable deeper than about 3.5 ft jars, sealing wax, sample bags, and other necessary tools and
(1.07 m). supplies.

FIG. 1 Hand Augers

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 D1452 – 09

FIG. 2 Post-Hole Augers

FIG. 3 Machine-Operated Augers

6. Procedure should be measured and documented during drilling to include

6.1 Make the auger boring by rotating and advancing the datum, date and time measured. Method or equipment used to
desired distance into the soil. Withdraw the auger from the hole determine depth of ground water level, such as Test Method
and remove the soil for examination and test. Return the empty D4750 should also be noted. If ground water is not encountered
auger to the hole and repeat the procedure. Continue the or if the level is of doubtful reliability, such information should
sequence until the required depth is reached. also be documented.
6.2 Casing is required in unstable soil in which the bore hole 6.4.1 The user is cautioned that there are many factors
fails to stay open and especially when the boring is extended which can influence borehole water level measurements and
below the ground-water level. The inside diameter of the the interpretation of borehole water level measurements. These
casing must be slightly larger than the diameter of the auger factors are not described or discussed in this practice. The
used. The casing shall be driven to a depth not greater than the interpretation and application of borehole water level informa-
top of the next sample and shall be cleaned out by means of the tion should be done by a trained specialist. Installation of
auger. The auger can then be inserted into the bore hole and piezometers should be considered where complex ground-
turned below the bottom of the casing to obtain a sample. water conditions prevail.
6.3 The soil auger can be used both for boring the hole and
for bringing up disturbed samples of the soil encountered. The 7. Data Sheet/Form
structure of a cohesive soil is completely destroyed and the 7.1 Report information in accordance with Guide D5434.
moisture may be changed by the auger. Seal all samples in a jar The data obtained in boring shall be recorded on the field logs
or other airtight container and label appropriately. If more than and shall include the following:
one type of soil is picked up in the sample, prepare a separate 7.1.1 Date of start and completion of boring,
container for each type of soil. 7.1.2 Identifying number of boring,
6.4 Monitoring Water Level—It is advisable to monitor 7.1.3 Reference datum including direction and distance of
ground water levels, if present, in the drill hole during and after boring relative to reference line of project or other suitable
removal of the drilling equipment. Ground water elevation reference points,

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 D1452 – 09
7.1.4 Type and size of auger used in boring, 7.1.9 Condition of augered hole upon removal of auger, that
7.1.5 Depth of changes in strata, is, whether the hole remains open or the sides cave, when such
7.1.6 Description of soil in each major stratum in accor- can be observed.
dance with Practice D2488,
7.1.7 Ground water elevation and location of seepage zones, 8. Keywords
when found,
7.1.8 Datum, date and time of borehole water-level mea- 8.1 auger borings; geotechnical exploration; sampling; soil
surement and method or equipment used, and explorations

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. EXAMPLE DATA SHEET

X1.1 Fig. X1.1 provides an example data sheet.

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D1452 – 09

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 D1452 – 09
SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee D18 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(D1452 – 07a) that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved Feb. 15, 2009.)

(1) Added Referenced Documents. (3) Other minor revisions throughout.

(2) Added Figs. 1-3.

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