Which term describes soil that contains fine particles that do not easily break apart?

The term that best describes soil containing fine particles that do not easily break apart is cohesive soil. Cohesive soils primarily consist of clay and silt, which are fine-textured particles that exhibit significant attraction between them due to their small size and surface area. This attraction allows these particles to stick together, leading to a soil texture that maintains shape and stability despite applied forces.

Cohesive soils are known for their ability to retain water and provide strength when saturated, which is essential in various engineering and construction applications. Understanding this characteristic helps in predicting the behavior of these soils under load and in different environmental conditions. This knowledge is crucial for professionals working in construction and geotechnical engineering, particularly when assessing site conditions for new projects.

Other types of soil, such as granular and sandy soils, are composed of larger particles that do not exhibit the same cohesive properties and therefore do not maintain structural integrity in the same way as cohesive soils do.