Which sampling method is described by forming a cone of material and dividing into piles for sub-sampling?

• A. Riffle Splitting
• B. Coning and Quartering
• C. Fractional Shoveling
• D. Rolling and Quartering

Answer: (B)

Coning and quartering is a classic approach for getting a representative sub-sample from a bulk material. The idea starts with thorough mixing so the composition is uniform, then you form a cone by letting the material pile up on a clean surface. After the cone is stable, you flatten it and divide it into four equal piles, typically removing two opposite quarters and recombining the remaining two to form the next sub-sample. Repeating this process reduces the sample size while preserving the overall composition, helping to minimize bias from uneven distribution or stratification. This specific sequence—forming a cone and then quartering the material into equal portions—is what distinguishes this method from other splitting techniques.