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X-Rite Improves Study of Environmental Conditions with Munsell Soil Color and Rock Color Charts

Monday 22. February 2010 - Munsell Color Services of X-Rite is introducing new soil color chart for soil scientists, government officials, health department workers and other professionals who need to define and communicate colors of the environmental conditions of land.

The Munsell Color Services of X-Rite, Inc. (NASDAQ:XRIT) is breaking new ground as the leader in providing tools for soil scientists, government officials, health department workers and other professionals who need to define and communicate colors of the environmental conditions of land.



The new Munsell Soil Color Book has more charts and is easier to use.

With its 2009 revision of the Munsell Soil Color Chart and binder, Munsell Color has developed additional charts to precisely classify the color of soils found in arid environments, primarily in response to demand for identification of land found in the southwestern United States that is being considered for real estate development. One widespread use of the Soil Color Chart is to identify soil types by color to determine whether they will allow proper drainage of storm water and wastewater effluent.

The 8-by-6 inch binder contains approximately 440 precisely formulated color chips permanently mounted to allow observers to classify soils by viewing samples through holes die cut in the pages. The color chips replicate the classification system developed by the National Resource Conservation Service, the federal agency formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service that provides technical assistance to private landowners and farmers.

In addition to more charts and other improvements to the soil color chart, Munsell Color has also assumed production and distribution of Geological Rock-Color Chart and binder that was previously published by the Geological Society of America. The Rock-Color Chart is considered by geologists, mining engineers and others as the bible for identifying rocks.

Patterned after the Soil Color Chart, the binder holds pages of more than 110 color samples to help classify fine-, medium- and coarse-grained rocks using ISCC-NBS method of designating colors.

“The Soil Color Chart and the Geological Rock-Color Chart are two of the most widely used tools worldwide for professionals to classify what they are observing in the field and communicating their findings to colleagues or recording their findings in reports,” said Art Schmehling, business manager for Munsell Color. He estimated that there are at least 100,000 of the binders in use today in North America, Canada, the European Union countries, Australia, Southeast Asia and Africa.

Schmehling said the Munsell Color has improved the method by which it manufactures both the Soil Color Chart and the Geological Rock-Color Chart by making the die cut holes larger so samples can be compared more easily and by using a two-part system to create each page. “Now the finished page is made up of two parts — a backer and a front mask,” Schmehling said. “The mask has a window die cut into which the color is placed, so that the color and the page have the same thickness. You have one smooth the surface over the page, which makes it easier to clean.”

Schmehling said that although the Soil Color Chart is well used for information gathering on soils for land development, the chart is also used to classifying rocks, archaeological specimens, animal pelage and other natural specimens that fall within its color range. The binder includes illustrations of soil grain structures and charts for estimating proportions of mottles and coarse fragments.

Available through a number of distributors, the Soil Color Chart retailing for $198 includes:

10 hue-based color charts including (10R, 2.5YR, 5YR, 7.5YR, 10YR, 2.5Y, and 5Y)
2 Gley charts (blue and green colors, and gray scale for submerged soils)
1 new white page
More than 320 matte color chips, permanently mounted
Soil grain illustrations
Charts for estimating proportions of mottles and coarse fragments
Convenient tabbed pages
Water-resistant wipeable pages
Rite-In-Rain notes page
Easy view apertures between color chips
Vinyl protective binder

Available directly from X-Rite or though select distributors, the Geological Rock-Color Chart retailing for $75 includes:

3 color charts
More than 110 matte color chips, permanently mounted
Convenient tabbed pages
Water-resistant wipeable pages
Rite-In-Rain notes page
Easy view apertures between color chips
Vinyl protective binder