Forums36
Topics40,960
Posts557,934
Members18,495
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 417
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 417 |
I'm almost finished with my pond and my brother-in-law who works for the state gave my number to a guy from a large construction company that needed some clay. His boss wants to seal a pond with it. He came out collected some samples. I have a hill that I was working on removing. The top three feet is black clay topsoil. The next layer was a yellow and white marbled clay. The next layer at six feet was gravel-like fossil. Deeper than that was filled with water so no sample but it has layers of rock with dark yellow clay in between. He took another sample of sandy yellow dirt for my curiousity. The black dirt tested 37 PI The next layer of yellow tested 22 PI The yellow fossil shell layer tested 27 PI The yellow sandy stuff tested 7 PI
He wants to come get the black stuff. If the black stuff held water there would be puddles everywhere. In my experience with these soils, the black stuff doesn't hold water. My new pond along with other ponds on the property hold water great. They were made by pushing the black stuff out of the way.
All the gravel and rocky yellow stuff is what I use for my dam because it holds water and the rock and gravel keep if from moving or mushing when the heifers walk on it.
Another thing. The sandy yellow stuff that tested 7 PI I used for fill with young calves and they packed it so good that you can drop water on it and it sits on top most of the day. I would use it before I used the black soil.
Is what I call the "useless black *&4&" not useless?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,053 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,053 Likes: 277 |
Test the useless stuff by packing some of it in a 5 gallon bucket. Try about a foot. Make sure it is packed really well. After the stuff get good and saturated, drill a small hole in the bottom of the bucket and see how long it takes to leak out.
What is PI?
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,934 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,934 Likes: 2 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,074
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,074 |
That really is a good test
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,261
Ambassador Lunker
|
Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,261 |
its likely yer black stuff is highly fractured from shrinkage and swelling (freezing and thawing) plus root penetration from weeds and grasses etc....so water drains through it. take the same soil, dig it, grade it, crush it with a dozer, roll it w/ a sheepsfoot, and wala....beautiful clay to line a pond with.
GSF are people too!
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|