What is an Edelman auger?
An Edelman auger is a hand-operated soil auger with a short, spiral head used to take soil samples quickly and relatively cleanly to depths of several metres. It is named after the Dutch agronomist C.H. Edelman and is a standard tool for soil investigation in the Netherlands.
Components
An Edelman auger consists of:
- Auger head — an open spiral steel head 6, 7 or 10 cm in diameter
- Auger rods — 1-metre extensions joined to greater length as needed
- T-handle — at the top, for turning by hand
- Threaded connections — usually with a spring catch or pin for quick coupling
How it works
The auger is rotated vertically into the soil:
- Place the head at the chosen sampling point
- Press down and turn clockwise — the spiral fills with soil
- Pull the auger up with the sample
- Empty the sample onto a sheet or tape measure beside the hole
- Add another rod and repeat to go deeper
Auger types
| Variant | Suited for |
|---|---|
| Sand version | Sand, loam, clay with few stones |
| Clay version | Heavy clay, peat |
| Combination version | Variable soils |
| Gravel auger | Gravelly soil (heavier build) |
Application
The Edelman auger is mainly used for:
- Site investigation — before constructing a house or commercial building
- Environmental survey — locating contamination
- Archaeology — tracing soil features and layers
- Agricultural survey — humus layer, water table, profile description
- Groundwater monitoring — installing hand-driven dip wells
Pros and cons
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Simple and inexpensive | Maximum depth around 6 metres |
| Quick to deploy, lightweight | Difficult in gravelly soil |
| Clean sample with minimal disturbance | Not suitable below the water table |
| Allows visual profile description | No strength measurement |
Combined with other equipment
For deeper or heavier work, the Edelman auger is often combined with:
- Piston sampler — for samples below the water table
- Bucket auger — for larger diameters
- Cone penetration rig — for strength measurements
Related terms
- Soil auger
- Bucket auger
- Soil investigation
- Cone penetration test
- Soil type
- Dip well
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