1.1 This practice describes the procedures and equipment used to collect surface and subsurface soil and contaminated media samples for chemical analysis using a hand-operated bucket auger (sometimes referred to as a barrel auger). Several types of bucket augers exist and are designed for sampling various types of soil. All bucket augers collect disturbed samples. Bucket augers can also be used to auger to the desired sampling depth and then, using a core-type sampler, collect a relatively undisturbed sample suitable for chemical analysis.

1.2 This practice does not cover the use of large 300 mm or greater diameter bucket augers mechanically operated by large drill rigs or similar equipment, such as those described in Practice D1452/D1452M, paragraph 5.2.4. Practice D1452/D1452M on auger borings refers to this hand auger included in Practice D6907 as a barrel auger.

1.3 Refer to Guides D4700 and D6232 for information on other hand samplers. The bucket auger is often used for shallow surface soil sampling, but there are many other types of handheld augers, flight, screw, rotary powered, and agricultural push tube samplers. Practice D1452/D1452M addresses larger powered solid stem flight auger systems.

1.4 This standard does not address soil samples obtained with mechanical drilling, direct push, and sonic machines (refer to Guides D6286/D6286M and D6169/D6169M) or for collecting cores from submerged sediments (Guide D4823).

1.5 This practice does not address sampling objectives (see Practice D5792), general sample planning (see Guide D4687), and sampling design (for example, where to collect samples and what depth to sample (see Guide D6044)). Sampling for volatile organic compounds (see Guide D4547), equipment cleaning and decontamination (see Practice D5088), sample handling after collection such as compositing and subsampling (see Guide D6051), and sample preservation (Guide D4220/D4220M) are used in this standard.

1.6 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D6026. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.

1.7 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.