A scanning electron microscope study has been undertaken of the microfabric of a variety of normally consolidated or lightly overconsolidated recent clays, silts and sands formed within the last 10 000 years. The soils have been deposited by alluvial action in marine, brackishand fresh water, by aeolian action or direct action of melting glaciers. The primary objectives of the study were to establish whether earlier concepts of particle arrangement were realistic and whether unique microfabrics were associated with particular depositional environments. A secondary objective was to establish whether specific engineering behaviours such as sensitivity collapse and expansiveness were especially associated with certain particle arrangements. The observations suggest that natural soil microfabric is much more complex than previously reported. Single clay platelet arrangements of any form were rarely seen whereas groups of clay platelets interacting in various forms were commonly found. Multi-level assemblages ...