Module – 3

Stones and Rocks

Reference books:
- Building Materials by SK Duggal
- Materials for Architects & Builders by Arthur Lyons
- Construction Materials, Methods and Techniques by W.P. Spenser, E. Kultermann
- Materials for Civil and Construction Engineers by Michael S. Mamlouk, John P. Zaniewski
Introduction

 The history of mankind is supposed to have begun with the stone age marked
by the use of implements and weapons made of stone. Prior to that, the
difference between animals and homosapiens was largely physical.
 But once human beings started using stones, the world of both changed
entirely
 Stone
“The natural, hard substance formed from minerals and earth material which are
present in rocks”
 Rock
“as the portion of the earth’s crust having no definite shape and structure”
 Almost all rocks have a definite chemical composition and are made up of minerals and
organic matter.
 Some of the rock-forming minerals are quartz, felspar, mica, dolomite, etc. The various
types of rocks from which building stones are usually derived are granite, basalt, trap,
marble, slate, sandstone and limestone
Geological classification

 – Igneous rocks (primary, un-stratified, eruptive) –

 cooled down molten volcanic lava (magma). Basalts
 and granites.
 – Sedimentary rocks (aqueous, stratified) – gradually
 deposited disintegrated rocks. Sand stones and lime
 stones
 – Metamorphic rocks – transformed due to great heat
 and pressure. lime stone to marble, shale to
 slate(Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed of mud that is
 a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments (silt-sized particles) of other

 minerals, especially quartz )

BUILDING STONES

Classification
Type your text
and
Civil Engineering Materials Uses
(CE-116)

Engr .Muhammad Farhan

Khattak

Lecture 4
Department of Civil Engineering
Iqra National University Peshawar
Building Stones 2
 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.

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 Building Stones
• Stones used in most historical places
– Pyramids of Egypt
– Taj Mahal of Agra, India
– Great wall of China
– Greek and Roman structures
– Quaid’s tomb in Karachi
– Shahi mosque in Lahore
– Forts at Rohtas, Lahore
– Lloyd’s Barrage at Sukkur

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 History

Taj Mehal ??

The Great Pyramids

??
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 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

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 Building Stones
• Stone as building material lost its
importance due to
– Advent of cement and steel –
– Structural strength can not be rationally
analyzed
– Transportation difficulties
– Dressing problems

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Stone Balast

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 Classification of Rocks
Rocks

Geological Physical Chemical Practical

Granite,
Igneous Stratified Argillaceous
Basalts

Sedimentary Un-Stratified Siliceous Marble

Limestone,
Metamorphic Foliated Calcareous Sandstone,
Slate

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 Classification of Rocks
• Geological classification
– Igneous rocks (primary, un-stratified, eruptive) –
cooled down molten volcanic lava (magma). Basalts
and granites.
– Sedimentary rocks (aqueous, stratified) – gradually
deposited disintegrated rocks. Sand stones and lime
stones
– Metamorphic rocks – transformed due to great heat
and pressure. lime stone to marble, shale to
slate(Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed of mud that is
a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments (silt-sized particles) of other
minerals, especially quartz )
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Igneous Rock

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Sedimentary Rocks

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Metamorphic Rocks

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 Classification of Rocks
• Physical classification
– Stratified rocks – separable distinct layers.
Cleavage(Cleavage is the tendency of crystalline materials to split
along definite crystallographic structural planes) plane of split
visible. Slate, sandstone, lime stone
– Un-stratified rocks – no sign of strata, cannot
be easily split into slabs. Granite, basalt, trap
– Foliated rocks – having tendency to split up
only in a definite direction

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Stratified Rocks

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Un-stratified Rocks

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Foliated Rocks

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 Classification of Rocks
• Chemical Classification
– Siliceous rocks – containing silica SiO2 (sand)
and silicates. Granite, basalt, quartzite, etc
– Argillaceous rocks – containing clay or
alumina Al2O3. Slate, laterite, etc
– Calcareous rocks – containing calcium
carbonate or lime. Limestone, marble, etc

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 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.
• Weight – heavier are compact, less porous, good for
hydraulic structures
• 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
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 Characteristics of Good
Building Stones
• 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
• 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

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Quarrying of Stones
 Quarrying and Dressing
• Quarrying: An art of extracting stones from
the rock beds of different varieties used for
general building work and broken stones
for roads and concrete work, etc
• Quarry: The place from which stone is
obtained by digging or blasting etc

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 Selection of Stones
• Heavy engineering works bridges, piers, abutments,
break waters, docks, light houses – granite
• Buildings facing the sea – granite, fine grained
sandstone
• Buildings in industrial area – granite, compact sandstone
• Arches – fine grained sandstone
• Building face work – marble, close grained sandstone
• Fire resisting structure – compact sandstone
• Road metal and aggregate for concrete – granite, basalt,
quartzite
• Railway ballast – coarse grained sandstone, quartzite
• Electrical switch board – slate, marble

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