Hue
Definition
The dominant wavelength family of a colour, expressed as a position on the Munsell colour wheel. Soil hues run from 10R (red) through YR and Y to 5GY, with 7.5YR and 10YR being the most common in mineral soils.
- Common mineral soil hues
- 7.5YR and 10YR
- Red range
- 10R
- Waterlogged soil hues
- GLEY1, GLEY2
Common questions
What is hue in the Munsell soil color system?+
Hue is the dominant wavelength family of a color, expressed as a position on the Munsell color wheel. It represents which spectral family a soil color belongs to, from red through yellow to greenish tones.
What hue ranges are used for soil classification?+
For soils, hues typically range from 10R (red) through YR and Y to 5GY, with 7.5YR and 10YR being the most common in mineral soils. Waterlogged or reduced soils show GLEY1 or GLEY2 hues instead.
Why does soil hue matter in forensic analysis?+
Soil hue helps identify soil composition and environmental conditions. Oxidized soils show warm hues like 10R to 10YR, while waterlogged reduced soils display GLEY tones. Matching hue between soil evidence and a scene is key to soil comparison.
Related terms
- Chroma
- The saturation or colourfulness of the hue, from 0 (neutral grey) outward in whole-number steps. Strongly weathered, iron-oxide-rich soils have high chroma;...
- Value
- The lightness dimension of the Munsell system, scaled from 0 (theoretical black) to 10 (theoretical white). High-organic soils tend to have low...
- A Horizon
- The uppermost mineral soil horizon, darkened by organic matter accumulation and the layer most commonly transferred by footwear and vehicle contact.
- Clay Mineral
- A secondary phyllosilicate mineral produced by chemical weathering; includes kaolinite, illite, smectite, and chlorite, all diagnostic of parent material and weathering intensity.
- Inter-Observer Variability
- The tendency of different trained examiners to assign slightly different Munsell codes to the same sample. Research has shown this can span...
- Loss on Ignition (LOI)
- Weight loss after heating dried soil to 550 degrees Celsius. Approximates the organic matter content. A simple, cheap, high-yield discriminator in field...
- Munsell Chip Comparison
- The visual procedure of matching a soil sample against printed colour chips in the Munsell Soil Colour Chart under standard daylight conditions,...
- Munsell Notation
- A three-component colour code (Hue-Value/Chroma) standardised under ASTM D1535 for describing soil colour from the Munsell Soil Colour Chart.
- Munsell Soil Colour Chart
- A physical book of matt colour chips arranged by hue, value, and chroma, published by X-Rite/Munsell Color. The analyst holds a chip...
- Particle-Size Distribution
- The quantitative measurement of the proportions of gravel, sand, silt, and clay in a soil sample, determined by sieving and hydrometer or...
- Soil Texture
- The relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay in the mineral fraction of a soil, expressed as a USDA or ISSS texture...
- Spectrophotometry
- Instrumental measurement of reflectance at each wavelength across the visible spectrum, producing a numerical colour profile. Results can be expressed in CIE...
Explained in these topics
- Soil Colour and Munsell NotationThe dominant wavelength family of a colour, expressed as a position on the Munsell colour wheel. Soil hues run from 10R (red) through YR and Y to 5GY, with 7.5...
- Soil Composition, Classification and the Munsell SystemThe dominant spectral family of a colour in the Munsell system; for soils, the relevant range is 10R to 10YR (oxidised) and GLEY1-GLEY2 (reduced waterlogged).