Questions and answers on how to convert things from one unit or system to another
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Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:55 am
How much does a typical gallon of dirt weight?
Where can such info be found?
Sat Feb 18, 2006 5:14 pm
Probably around 13 pounds a gallon loose. However, there is a wrench in the gears . . .
. . . It depends on the density - what kind of dirt it is (silt, clay, sandy silt, etc), what else is in it (rocks, minerals, etc), what the moisture content of that dirt is and what state of compaction it is in.
A typical loose sample of fairly dry topsoil weighs around 1600 pounds per cubic yard. There are 27 cubic feet in a yard and 7.48 gallons in a cubic foot. 1600/27=59.26 pounds a cubic foot. 59.26/7.48=7.92 pounds per gallon.
A typical loose sample of dry earth weighs a lot more . . . 2550 pounds a cubic yard. Using the same math, it weighs 12.63 pounds a gallon.
Pack the earth inside the gallon container and it jumps to 15.84 pounds a gallon. Get it wet before you compact it and it jumps to 16.84 pounds a gallon. Make mud and it's heavier still!
Sorry I'm giving you a non answer but . . . it depends on a lot of factors.
You can find some of this information in a table of "weights of materials". Someone on here has a link they can give you I'm sure or you can find one in the Caterpillar Performance Handbooks available at any Caterpillar dealer.
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