Bucket augers are relatively inexpensive, readily available, available in different types depending on the media to be sampled, and most can be easily operated by one person. They collect a reasonably cylindrical but disturbed sample of surface or subsurface soil or waste. They are generally not suited for sampling gravelly or coarser soil and are unsuitable for sampling rock.

Bucket augers are commonly used equipment because they are inexpensive to operate, especially compared to powered equipment (that is, direct push and drill rigs). When evaluated against screw augers, bucket augers generally collect larger samples with less chance of mixing with soil from shallow depths because the sample is retained within the auger barrel. Bucket augers are commonly used to depths of 3 m but have been used to much greater depths depending upon the soil or waste characteristics. The sampling depth is limited by the force required to rotate the auger and the depth at which the borehole collapses (unless bore casings or liners are used).

Bucket augers may not be suitable for the collection of samples for determination of volatile organic compounds because the sample is disturbed during the collection process, which may lead to losses resulting in a chemically unrepresentative sample.

1.1 This practice describes the procedures and equipment used to collect surface and subsurface soil and contaminated media samples for chemical analysis using a hand-operated bucket auger (hereafter referred to as a bucket auger; sometimes referred to as a barrel auger). Several types of bucket augers exist and are designed for sampling various types of soil. All bucket augers collect disturbed samples, but bucket augers can also be used to auger to the desired sampling depth and then, using a core-type sampler, collect a relatively undisturbed sample.

1.2 This practice does not cover the use of large (12-in. or greater diameter) bucket augers mechanically operated by large drill rigs or similar equipment, such as those described in Practice D 1452, section 3.2.4.

1.3 The term bucket auger is used to differentiate this type of hand operated auger from others of the solid or hollow stem types that are also hand held or operated.

1.4 This practice does not address sampling objectives (see Practice D 5792), general sample planning (see Guide D 4687), sampling design (for example, where to collect samples and what depth to sample [see Guide D 6044]), sampling for volatile organic compounds (see Guide D 4547), equipment cleaning and decontamination (see Practice D 5088), sample handling after collection such as compositing and subsampling (see Guide D 6051), and sample preservation. For information on other types of augers, see Practice D 1452 and Guide D 4700.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.