Final answer:
b) Clay The presence of a talc-like material on the hands during a soil texture 'feel' assessment indicates that clay is present in the soil.
Step-by-step explanation:
When performing a "feel" assessment of soil texture, the presence of a talc-like material on the hands indicates that an appreciable amount of clay is present. Clay soil is characterized by its fine particles and plasticity, which becomes a cohesive product when water is added. The fine particles of silt found within clay contribute to this plasticity. Silt itself consists of minerals like feldspar and silica. While silt particles fall into a specific size range, it is clay that gives soil the talc-like feel when rubbed between your fingers due to its very small particle size compared to sand or silt.
The presence of a talc-like material on the hands during a 'feel' assessment of soil texture indicates that an appreciable amount of clay is present. Clay soils are composed of very small particles, unlike sandy soils which have larger particles. The fine particles of silt in clay give it its plasticity and when water is added, it becomes a cohesive substance.