What should be done if there’s a high chance of particles being unequally distributed when reducing a field sample to test size?

Using the entire sample when there’s a high chance of unequal particle distribution is significant because it ensures that all variations in the sample are represented in your test. By including the entire sample, you capture the full range of particle sizes and types, which is crucial for obtaining accurate and reliable test results. This approach mitigates the risk of sampling bias that could arise from selecting only a part of the sample, which might consist of either predominantly large or small particles, thus skewing the test outcomes.

Thoroughly mixing the entire sample before conducting tests can enhance uniformity but if the sample is too large for practical testing, mixing alone may not suffice without considering the need to encompass the full spectrum of the sample’s characteristics. Therefore, simply using part of the sample or splitting it further without ensuring uniformity could lead to an incomplete understanding of the material's properties. The goal is to reflect the true nature of the entire sample in the test results, which makes utilizing the entire sample the best approach in this scenario.