To　investigate　the　optical　and　mechanical　properties　of　transparent　soil,　experimental　research　was　conducted　and　the　microscopic　structure　was　analysed　with　the　help　of　a　scanning　electron　microscope,　the　refractive　indices　of　the　transparent　soil　under　different　void　ratios　were　obtained,　observing　the　microscopic　characteristics　transparent　soil.　In　addition,　a　consolidation　test　and　a　shear　test　were　conducted　to　elucidate　the　e–p　relationship　and　shear　parameters　of　the　transparent　soil.　On　this　basis,　a　material　similar　technique　to　the　transparent　soft　rock　was　prepared　and　uniaxial　compression　tests　were　conducted　to　determine　the　uniaxial　compressive　strength　and　elastic　modulus　of　the　transparent　soft　rock　under　different　consolidation　pressures.　The　stress–strain　curve　of　the　transparent　soft　rock　can　be　divided　into　three　stages,　with　the　increase　in　consolidation　pressure,　both　the　uniaxial　compressive　strength　and　elasticity　modulus　of　the　transparent　soft　rock　increased　significantly.　These　findings　are　of　theoretical　and　practical　significance,　which　can　provide　references　for　model　tests　on　transparent　soils　used　in　geotechnical　engineering.　©　2020,　Saudi　Society　for　Geosciences.