A soil that stains fingers strongly and is very sticky is likely which type?

A soil that stains fingers strongly and exhibits a very sticky texture is characteristic of clay. This is primarily due to the small particle size and the unique physical and chemical properties of clay particles, which have a high surface area relative to their volume. As a result, clay retains more moisture and can become very plastic when wet, leading to the sticky feel associated with heavy clay soils. The ability to stain fingers suggests a higher content of fine particles, which is indicative of clay. This stickiness and the ability to easily form shapes and retain moisture further support the identification of the soil as clay.

In contrast, other soil types like clay loam, silty clay loam, and sandy loam contain varying proportions of larger particles or a mix of textures that do not typically result in the same strong staining or stickiness when wet. These other compositions would not provide the same level of plasticity or moisture retention as pure clay.