A Preliminary Framework of Standard Sequence of Rock-Soil Strata Based on the Large Database

In the current rock or soil classification schemes, lots of fuzzy zones are caused among various rock or soil types due to the fragmentation of classification standards. The general classification of rock and soil should be based on the basic material composition: solid, liquid and gas. Normally, the combination scheme of special components, grain size, porosity and degree of saturation can be adopted. In this paper, special components include organic matter and special minerals which include lamellar minerals represented by montmorillonite, soluble salts and carbonate minerals. The general classification index should be applied to various kinds of rock and soil, but some parameters only suitable for a specific rock or soil can be used as the secondary classification index. Special components, grain sizes and composition are adopted to classify particles of rock and soil, porosity to measure the absolute compactness among particles and degree of saturation to measure moisture state. A rock-soil stratum is defined as the stratum with the same geological age, the same genesis and the same special components, grain sizes and composition, compactness and degree of saturation. The standard sequence of rock-soil strata is defined as all combinations of rock and soil strata with a specific geological era and a specific genetic type in a region. It is an important foundation of a large database to establish the standard sequence of rock-soil strata for all the geological ages and genetic types in a region, a nation or the whole world.