Munsell® Soil Color Charts

Color Charts Accurately Describe Your Soil Samples

Munsell Soil Color Charts were developed in cooperation with the U.S. Soil Conservation Service guidelines for classifying colors of various soils. They help you and your colleagues across the room—and across the country—clearly communicate exactly what type of soil you are analyzing. They can also be used for rocks, archaeological specimens, animal pelage and other natural products in this color range.

These guides were developed in cooperation with the U.S. Soil Conservation Service guidelines for classifying colors of various soils. They help you and your colleagues across the room-and across the country-clearly communicate exactly what type of soil you are analyzing. They can also be used for rocks, archaeological specimens, animal pelage and other natural products in this color range. Matte color chips are mounted on 13 tabbed charts: 10R, 7.5R, 5R, 2.5YR, 5YR, 7.5YR, 10YR, 2.5Y, 5Y and 10Y-5GY, plus two-page gley chart (blue and green colors, and gray scale for submerged soils) and a white page. Used to describe carbonate, silica, gypsum, soluble salt participates and more, the white page shows half steps from 8.5 to 9.5 in value with chromas of 1 and 2 for N, 7.5YR, 10YR and 2.5Y. Recessed chips allow better color comparisons. Charts come in a loose-leaf binder with water-resistant, washable text pages. Illustrations of soil grain structures and charts for estimating proportions of mottles and coarse fragments; color name diagrams and instructions. Charts measure 7-1/4"H x 4-1/4"W; chips are 5/8"W x 1/2"L.