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Sieve analysis
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<p>A sieve analysis (or gradation test) is a practice or procedure used in geology, <a href="/facts/Civil_engineering/avh5kEq2">civil engineering</a>, and <a href="/facts/Chemical_engineering/Fb64amQf">chemical engineering</a> to assess the <a href="/facts/Particle_size_distribution/HVfYecnj">particle size distribution</a> (also called <i>gradation</i>) of a <a href="/facts/Granular_material/FTFHA04f">granular material</a> by allowing the material to pass through a series of <a href="/facts/Sieves/LJBztC9f">sieves</a> of progressively smaller <a href="/facts/Mesh/NEhkQbRx">mesh</a> size and weighing the amount of material that is stopped by each sieve as a fraction of the whole mass. </p><p>The size distribution is often of critical importance to the way the material performs in use. A sieve analysis can be performed on any type of non-organic or organic granular materials including <a href="/facts/Sand/MdTIt0M8">sand</a>, crushed <a href="/facts/Rock_(geology)/FXCJkmop">rock</a>, <a href="/facts/Clay/xnwouEkB">clay</a>, <a href="/facts/Granite/G2evuVKo">granite</a>, <a href="/facts/Feldspar/DVvFnfA9">feldspar</a>, <a href="/facts/Coal/83kV3qxg">coal</a>, <a href="/facts/Soil/5Ddpr3QM">soil</a>, a wide range of manufactured powder, <a href="/facts/Grain/C00uWDPs">grain</a> and <a href="/facts/Seeds/a4xGSLxJ">seeds</a>, down to a minimum size depending on the exact method. Being such a simple technique of <a href="/facts/Particle_size/KWwwGkn4">particle sizing</a>, it is probably the most common. </p>