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Soil Table 1: (Metric) Thermal Conductivity and Diffusivity of Sand and Clay Soils*
Soil Type
Dry 
Density
5% Moist
10% Moist
15% Moist
20% Moist
k
(W/m*K)

k
(W/m*K)

k
(W/m*K)

k
(W/m*K)

Coarse
100% Sand
1900
2.1-3.3
0.089-0.14
2.4-3.5
0.086-0.12
2.8-3.8
0.085-0.11
-
-
1600
1.4-2.4
0.072-0.12
2.1-2.6
0.089-0.11
2.3-2.8
0.083-0.10
2.4-2.9
0.078-0.093
1300
0.9-1.9
0.056-0.12
1.0-1.9
0.056-0.10
1.0-2.1
0.047-0.093
1.2-2.1
0.048-0.083
Fine Grain
100% Clay
1900
1.0-1.4
0.045-0.060
1.0-1.4
0.037-0.049
1.4-1.9
0.043-0.059
-
-
1600
0.9-1.0
0.045-0.054
0.9-1.0
0.037-0.045
1.0-1.2
0.034-0.045
1.0-1.4
0.038-0.051
1300
0.5-0.9
0.033-0.056
0.6-0.9
0.033-0.047
0.7-0.95
0.032-0.044
0.7-1.0
0.028-0.042
*Values indicate ranges predicted by five independent methods. (1)
k = Thermal Conductivity,  = Thermal Diffusivity
Coarse Grain= 0.075 to 5mm - Fine Grain less than 0.075mm (0.075mm = #200 U.S. Standard Sieve)

1. O.T. Farouki, "Evaluation of Methods for Calculating Soil Thermal Conductivity," U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory Report 82-8, Hanover, NH, 1982.

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