Use this geological calculation for a transparent first-pass interpretation of measured rock, soil, fluid, well, stratigraphic, isotopic, geophysical, or seismic data under an explicitly selected model.

w

Initial water content of the soil pat in percent.

V

Initial wet volume of the soil pat in cubic centimeters.

Vd

Oven-dry volume of the soil pat in cubic centimeters.

Md

Oven-dry mass of the soil pat in grams.

rho_w

Water density in grams per cubic centimeter.

Compute the shrinkage limit SL in percent from the initial water content (percent), wet and dry pat volumes (cm3), oven-dry mass (g) and water density (g/cm3). The tool evaluates the supplied inputs together and returns the named outputs below; it does not infer omitted operating conditions or change the units shown.^[1]

SL

Shrinkage limit in percent.

• Radiometric ages require the correct decay constants, isotopic ratios, standards, common-component correction, closure interpretation, initial composition, and analytical uncertainties. Disturbance, inheritance, diffusion, alteration, and model choice can make a calculated number differ from the geological event age.
• Use finite inputs in the displayed units and preserve more precision than the final presentation requires. Independently verify safety-critical, financial, compliance, or production decisions.

Compare independent measurements and models, retain units and analytical metadata, propagate uncertainty, and validate interpretations against logs, cores, maps, laboratory data, or field observations.

• Shrinkage Ratio Calculator

  Compute soil shrinkage ratio as oven-dry density divided by water density, and shrinkage limit from the mass and volume lost while drying.

• Water Content Calculator

  Compute gravimetric water content as the mass of pore water divided by the oven-dry solids mass, in percent.

• Dry Density Calculator

  Compute dry density from wet (bulk) density and gravimetric water content using rho_d = rho / (1 + w).