Dirt and Topsoil
Mobile handling for excavated soil, topsoil and fill across construction, landscaping and remediation.
SANTO supplies mobile conveying, stacking and loading equipment engineered for dirt and topsoil — from receiving and stockpiling to reclaim and load-out. The notes below cover the properties that matter, the problems that typically appear on site and the machines we recommend.
Why Mobile Conveying Suits Dirt and Topsoil
Dirt and topsoil are moist, variable earth with bulk density 1.2–1.8 t/m³ that clumps and sticks when wet. The tracked stockpiler builds clean topsoil and fill piles separately, preserving the screened layer for reuse.
- Separate clean topsoil piles for later reuse
- Tracked mobility crosses rough, excavated ground
- Low feeders ease direct excavator loading of earth
- Belt scrapers clear wet, sticky clay buildup
- Mobile train relocates between cut and fill areas
Physical Properties and Handling Behaviour
The table below summarises the properties that decide belt specification, chute geometry and stacking method for this material. Values are typical ranges — actual figures vary with source and moisture content, so we test your sample before finalising a design.
| Property | Typical Value / Handling Impact |
|---|---|
| Bulk density | 1.2–1.8 t/m³ (moisture-dependent) |
| Particle size | Fines to cobbles; cohesive when wet |
| Abrasiveness | Low, but wet clay smears belts |
| Angle of repose | Steep when moist and cohesive |
| Handling note | Keep topsoil separate; manage wet, sticky clay |
Handling Challenges with Dirt and Topsoil — and How SANTO Solves Them
Wet earth clumps and smears belts, while mixed excavation buries topsoil under fill if not separated. Soft, uneven ground traps wheeled plant.
SANTO tracked stackers and low feeders use belt scrapers and sealed bearings to move sticky soil cleanly, building distinct topsoil and fill piles. Tracked mobility lets the train work cut and fill areas that wheeled units cannot reach.
- Build separate topsoil and fill piles for reuse
- Fit belt scrapers for wet, sticky clay
- Use tracked chassis on soft excavated ground
Recommended SANTO Equipment
For dirt and topsoil we most often supply the machines listed below. Each can be configured with the belt width, boom length and drive power your tonnage requires, and each is available on wheeled, tracked or crawler chassis.
- Tracked Stockpiler — configured for dirt and topsoil duty
- Low Feeder Track Stacker — configured for dirt and topsoil duty
- Grasshopper Conveyor — configured for dirt and topsoil duty
- Tracked Radial Stacker — configured for dirt and topsoil duty
Typical Stockpiling and Loading Setups
A well-planned dirt and topsoil yard keeps receiving, stacking and reclaiming on separate paths so trucks never queue behind a loader. In the most common layout, a mobile conveyor receives from the tipper or hopper and feeds a radial telescopic stacker that builds a layered stockpile, while a second conveyor reclaims to the loading point.
- Receiving: hopper or direct truck discharge into a mobile conveyor
- Stacking: radial or telescopic stacking to build layered, drainable stockpiles
- Reclaim: front-end loader feeding a mobile conveyor, or direct reclaim conveyor
- Load-out: conveyor to truck, wagon, barge or vessel hold
Frequently Asked Questions
How is topsoil kept separate from fill?
The mobile stacker builds distinct, clean piles so the screened top layer is preserved for landscaping and reuse.
What about wet, sticky clay?
Belt scrapers and sealed bearings clear the smearing buildup that wet earth leaves on standard conveyors.
Can it work on rough ground?
Yes. Tracked chassis traverse soft, excavated surfaces where wheeled plant would bog down.
Need the right machine for your site?
Send us your material, required capacity and site layout. SANTO engineers will size the equipment and return a configuration proposal within 12 hours — no obligation.