ASTM D5434-97 - 10.12.1997
 
1. Scope

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 problems, 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.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D3441-25

Standard Test Method for Mechanical Cone Penetration Testing of Soils

D3550-01

Standard Practice for Thick Wall, Ring-Lined, Split Barrel, Drive Sampling of Soils

D3740-26

Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction

D4623-16

Standard Test Method for Determination of In Situ Stress in Rock Mass by Overcoring Method—Three Component Borehole Deformation Gauge (Withdrawn 2025)

D2488-26

Standard Practice for Description and Identification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Visual-Manual Procedures)

D4083-25

Standard Practice for Description of Frozen Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)

D4220-95(2000)

Standard Practices for Preserving and Transporting Soil Samples

D4403-20

Standard Practice for Extensometers Used in Rock

D4544-25

Standard Practice for Estimating Peat Deposit Thickness

D4633-16

Standard Test Method for Energy Measurement for Dynamic Penetrometers (Withdrawn 2025)

D4645-08

Standard Test Method for Determination of In-Situ Stress in Rock Using Hydraulic Fracturing Method (Withdrawn 2017)

D4719-20

Standard Test Methods for Prebored Pressuremeter Testing in Soils

D4750-87(2001)

Standard Test Method for Determining Subsurface Liquid Levels in a Borehole or Monitoring Well (Observation Well) (Withdrawn 2010)

D4879-08

Standard Guide for Geotechnical Mapping of Large Underground Openings in Rock (Withdrawn 2017)

D5079-25

Standard Practices for Preserving and Transporting Rock Core Samples

D6032-08

Standard Test Method for Determining Rock Quality Designation (RQD) of Rock Core

D2113-14

Standard Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling of Rock for Site Exploration (Withdrawn 2023)

D420-18

Standard Guide for Site Characterization for Engineering Design and Construction Purposes

D653-26a

Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids (Includes all amendments and changes 6/15/2026).

D1452-09

Standard Practice for Soil Exploration and Sampling by Auger Borings

D1586-11

Standard Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils

D1587-08

Standard Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils for Geotechnical Purposes

D2573-08

Standard Test Method for Field Vane Shear Test in Cohesive Soil