Acid Sulphate Soils

Acid Sulfate Soil Assessment is often conducted as a component of Contaminated Land Assessment for the Development Application process, or for soil disposal, depending on the nature of your property and its current and future use.

Acid Sulfate Soils (ASS) are naturally occurring soils and sediments which contain iron sulfides. When they come into contact with oxygen, they react to produce sulfuric acid, which can pose a threat to building structures and the environment. To name a few of the major issues, ASS can corrode concrete and steel, affect plant growth, and degrade waterways, which have to be carefully managed to avoid environmental contamination.

Specialised sampling equipment capable of taking uncontaminated core samples is a vital component of any ASS investigation. Inappropriate equipment/sampling procedure will render the laboratory results unrepresentative and invalidate the ASS component of the report. If soil test sampling potentially ASS via conventional auger drilling your results can become undefendable if they should ever be challenged. At CQ Soil Testing, we have the only drilling rig in central Queensland capable of appropriate ASS sampling and now with the support of our NATA accredited CQ Soil Labs in-house soil testing, we are only team you will need for reliable and technically sound soil test results and reporting.

CQ Soil Testing undertake Salinity Testing, Acid Sulfate Soils Assessments, and Land Capability Assessments, using our geotechnical drill rig to profile the soils and collect samples. Direct push technology is also used to obtain undisturbed samples.

In general, our soil assessment services test for the following.

• Acid sulphate and salinity levels.
• Presence of nutrients or contaminants in the soil.
• Suitability for various uses, such as agriculture, construction, and landscaping.
• Erosion risks and potential for hazards due to waterways and weathering.

CQ Soil Testing also provide erosion control services, taking measures to reduce and reverse the effects of erosion. Sediment control and matting, revegetation and seeding, reinforcement of slopes, with other methods also included in our approach. Where possible biodegradable solutions are used in association with planting of native plants for stabilisation of erosion areas.

Backed by our NATA accredited CQ Soil Labs, CQ Soil Testing provides efficient, accurate results in accordance with your project objectives. The data we provide will help you make quality decisions designed to aid your business and to help protect the environment.