Munsell Soil Colour
Definition
Standardised colour notation written as hue, value and chroma (e.g. 10YR 4/3 dark brown). Read by holding a moist soil sample against the Munsell Soil Color Chart under daylight. Mandatory in any soil comparison report.
- Notation format
- Hue value/chroma, e.g. 10YR 4/3
- Sample condition
- Moist
- Reference tool
- Munsell Soil Color Chart
- Reporting status
- Mandatory in soil comparison reports
Common questions
Why must the reading be taken on moist rather than dry soil for the standard report figure?+
Moist soil gives a more consistent and saturated colour than dry soil, which fades and lightens unpredictably as it loses moisture, so labs standardise on the moist reading as the primary comparable figure between casework samples.
Does an identical Munsell notation between two soil samples prove common origin?+
No, colour match alone is not individualising since many different locations can share the same Munsell reading; it is treated as one class characteristic among several, alongside particle size, mineralogy and organic content.
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