ASTM D6640-01 - 10.2.2001
 
1. Scope

1.1 This practice covers procedures for obtaining soils from core barrel samplers for chemical and physical analysis, with an emphasis on the collection and handling procedures that maintain the representativeness of the chemical contaminants of concern. Core barrel samplers are initially empty (hollow) until they are pushed into the ground to collect and retrieve a cylindrical soil sample with minimal disturbance. The selection of equipment and the sample handling procedures are dependent on the soil properties, the depth of sampling, and the general properties of the chemical contaminants of concern, that is, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and inorganic constituents. The sampling procedures described are designed to maintain representative concentrations of the contaminants regardless of their physical state(s), that is, solid, liquid or gas.

1.2 Four general types of core barrel samplers are discussed in this practice: split-barrel, ring-lined barrel, thin-walled tube, and solid-barrel samplers.

1.3 This document does not cover all the core barrel devices that are available for the collection of soil samples.

1.4 The procedures described may or may not be applicable to handling of samples for assessing certain geotechnical properties, for example, soil porosity.

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.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D1586-11

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

D4687-14(2022)

Standard Guide for General Planning of Waste Sampling

D5784-95(2000)

Standard Guide for Use of Hollow-Stem Augers for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D5792-10(2023)

Standard Practice for Generation of Environmental Data Related to Waste Management Activities: Development of Data Quality Objectives

D1587-08

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

D3550-01

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

D3694-96(2024)

Standard Practices for Preparation of Sample Containers and for Preservation of Organic Constituents

D4547-20

Standard Guide for Sampling Waste and Soils for Volatile Organic Compounds

D4700-15

Standard Guide for Soil Sampling from the Vadose Zone (Withdrawn 2024)

D5088-20

Standard Practice for Decontamination of Field Equipment Used at Waste Sites

D5875-95(2000)

Standard Guide for Use of Cable-Tool Drilling and Sampling Methods for Geoenvironmental Exploration and Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D5876-95(2000)

Standard Guide for Use of Direct Rotary Wireline Casing Advancement Drilling Methods for Geoenvironmental Exploration and Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D6051-15(2023)

Standard Guide for Composite Sampling and Field Subsampling for Environmental Waste Management Activities

D6169-98

Standard Guide for Selection of Soil and Rock Sampling Devices Used With Drill Rigs for Environmental Investigations

D6232-21

Standard Guide for Selection of Sampling Equipment for Waste and Contaminated Media Data Collection Activities

D6282-98

Standard Guide for Direct Push Soil Sampling for Environmental Site Characterizations

D6286-19

Standard Guide for Selection of Drilling and Direct Push Methods for Geotechnical and Environmental Subsurface Site Characterization

D6151-25

Standard Practice for Using Hollow-Stem Augers for Geotechnical Exploration and Soil Sampling

D653-26a

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