The preparation of field logs provides documentation of field exploration procedures and findings for geotechnical, geologic, hydrogeologic, and other investigations of subsurface site conditions. This guide may be used for a broad range of investigations.

The recorded information in a field log will depend on the specific purpose of the site investigation. All of the information given in this guide need not appear in all field logs.

Note 1—The quality of the result produced by this standard is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective sampling. Users of this practice are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.

1.1 This guide describes the type of information that should be recorded during field subsurface explorations in soil and rock.

1.2 This guide is not intended to specify all of the information required for preparing field logs. Such requirements will vary depending on the purpose of the investigation, the intended use of the field log, and particular needs of the client or user.

1.3 This guide is applicable to boreholes, auger holes, excavated pits, or other subsurface exposures such as road side cuts or stream banks. This guide may serve as a supplement to Guide D420.

1.4 This guide may not be suited to all types of subsurface exploration such as mining, agricultural, geologic hazardous waste, or other special types of exploration.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care of which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.