Engineering Materials
Lecture 5
Building Stones
Building Stone
• Stone: A construction material derived
from rocks in the earth’s crust and mixture
of two or more minerals.
• Mineral is a substance which is formed by
the natural inorganic process and
possesses a definite chemical composition
and molecular structure.
Civil Engineering Uses
• Construction of residential and public buildings
• Construction of dams, weirs, harbors, bridge
abutments, etc
• Face work of structures for appearance and
ornamental value
• Road metal and railway ballast
• Aggregate for concrete
• Stone dust as substitute for sand
• Thin slabs for roofing, flooring and pavements
• Limestone for manufacture of lime, cement, etc
Classification of Rocks
Classification of Rocks
Rocks
Geological Physical Chemical Practical
Granite,
Igneous Stratified Argillaceous
Basalts
Sedimentary Un-Stratified Siliceous Marble
Limestone,
Metamorphic Foliated Calcareous Sandstone,
Slate
Classification of Rocks
• Geological classification
Igneous rocks (primary, un-stratified,
eruptive) – cooled down molten
volcanic lava (magma). Basalts and
granites.
Fig. 6.02
W. W. Norton
Igneous Rock Samples
Extrusive Lava Flow-McGraw Hill Pub. Intrusive Granite –
[Link]
Sedimentary rocks
(aqueous, stratified) –
gradually deposited
disintegrated rocks. Sand
stones and lime stones
Classification of Rocks
• Physical classification
– Stratified rocks – separable distinct layers.
Cleavage plane of split visible. E.g Slate,
sandstone, lime stone
– Un-stratified rocks – no sign of strata, cannot
be easily split into slabs. E.g Granite, basalt,
trap
– Foliated rocks – having tendency to split up
only in a definite direction
Sedimentary structures (Physical features)
1. Layers (bedding, or “strata”)
deposited horizontally
each layer is unique
separated by bedding planes
sediments
gravel sand silt clay
sedimentary
rocks
conglomerate sandstone siltstone shale
Metamorphic rocks – transformed
due to great heat and pressure.
Granite to gneiss, lime stone to
marble, shale to slate
Sedimentary
0 km rock
Metamorphic
rock
Sediment Igneous
rock
10 km
~200ºC Sedimentary Metamor
rock -phism
occurs
Increasing depth
and temperature
Metamorphism between
about 10
and 50
km of
depth
50 km
Melting
~800ºC
These rocks don’t
melt
GARNET SCHIST
Classification of Rocks
• Chemical Classification
– Siliceous rocks – containing silica SiO2 (sand)
and silicates. Granite, basalt, trap, quartzite,
gneiss, syenite, etc
– Argillaceous rocks – containing clay or
alumina Al2O3. Slate, laterite, etc
– Calcareous rocks – containing calcium
carbonate or lime. Limestone, marble,
dolomite, etc
Classification of Rocks
• Practical Classification
– Granites
– Basalts
– Marbles
– Sandstones
– Slates
– Etc, etc
Stone Mountain, Atlanta, USA
Igneous Rocks
Red Granite
Vesicular Basalt
Sedimentary Rocks
Sandstone
Devonian Sandstone
Basalt and Sandstone
Limestone and Slate
Metamorphic Rocks
Green Slate
Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Gneiss
Granitic Gneisses
Granitic Gneisses
Miscellaneous Sedimentary
Material
Glacially Transported Potpourri
Glacially Transported Gravels
Chert Nodules (Flints)
Chert Nodules (Flints)
Chert Nodules
Cenzoic Coral
Stone Masonry
Characteristics of Good
Building Stones
• Appearance & color – uniform color, lighter shades
preferred, free from clay holes, bands or spots
• Structure – Not dull in appearance, crystalline
homogenous close grained is good, stratification should
not be visible, fine grained for carving
• Weight – heavier are compact, less porous, good for
hydraulic structures
Cont…
• Strength – generally compressive strength
needed, igneous rock stones are stronger
• Hardness– resistance to abrasion, friction
and wear. Hardness scale 1 to 10
• Toughness – Withstand impact, vibrations,
moving loads
• Dressing – uniform texture and softness
for fine surface finish
Cont….
• Porosity and Absorption – exposed surface
absorbs rain water forming acids causing
crumbling action. Cyclic freezing and thawing of
pore water
• Seasoning – hardening and weathering affect
due to evaporation of quarry sap and formation
of crystalline film. 6 to 12 months for proper
seasoning
• Weathering – resistance to action of weather
Cont….
• Resistance to fire – free from calcium
carbonate or oxides of iron
• Durability – compact, homogenous and
less absorptive is more durable
• Cost – quarrying, transportation, dressing
and installation
Moh’s Hardness Scale
• 1 Talc- scratched easily by thumb nail
• 2 Gypsum- scratched by thumb nail
• 3 Calcite- scratched not by thumb nail but by
knife
• 4 Fluorite- cut by knife with difficulty
• 5 Apatite- cut by knife with difficulty more than 4
• 6 Orthoclase- cut by knife with great difficulty
• 7 Quartz- not scratched by steel, scratches
glass
• 8 Topaz
• 9 Sapphire
• 10 Diamond
Any Questions ???
