The presence of a talc-like material on the hands indicates a significant amount of which particle size?

• A. Clay
• B. Silt
• C. Sand
• D. Organic matter

Answer: (B)

In soil texture, the feel of the soil between your fingers reflects the dominant particle size. A talc-like, powdery residue on the hands points to very fine particles that are finer than sand but not as fine as clay—that’s silt-sized material. Silt is small enough to feel silky or powdery when handled, yet it isn’t as sticky and plastic as clay. So the presence of that talc-like material indicates there’s a significant amount of silt-sized particles in the soil. Sand would feel gritty, clay would feel sticky and plastic, and organic matter has a different fibrous or crumbly texture, not a talc-like powder.