Munsell Colour Notation
Definition
A three-axis colour system using hue (e.g., 10YR), value (lightness) and chroma (saturation). The Munsell Soil Colour Chart is the field standard used by IO and FSL alike for the first-pass screen.
- Axes
- Hue, value, chroma
- Hue example
- 10YR
- Reference tool
- Munsell Soil Colour Chart
- Use
- First-pass field screen by investigating officer and lab
Common questions
Why is Munsell notation used as only a first-pass screen rather than final proof?+
It is a visual match subject to lighting and observer variation, so a Munsell match is used to include or exclude candidate soil sources quickly, while final comparisons rely on instrumental methods like particle size or mineralogical analysis.
What does a difference of one chroma step between two samples mean?+
It indicates the samples differ in colour saturation and are not a Munsell match, though examiners weigh this alongside hue and value differences and the known variability within a single soil source before drawing a conclusion.
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