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Average Specific Gravity of Various Rock Types

Material Specific Gravity Tons / Cubic Yard

Andesite 2.5 - 2.8 2.11 - 2.36

Basalt/Traprock 2.8 - 3.0 2.36 - 2.53

Coal - Anthracite 1.3 1.08

Coal - Bituminous 1.1 - 1.4 0.92 - 1.18

Copper Ore 2 1.89

Diabase 2.6 - 3.0 2.19 - 2.53

Diorite 2.8 - 3.0 2.36 - 2.53

Dolomite 2.8 - 2.9 2.36 - 2.44

Earth (dry) 1.6 - 1.8 1.35 - 1.52

Earth (wet) 2 1.6875

Gneiss 2.6 - 2.9 2.19 - 2.44

Granite 2.6 - 2.7 2.19 - 2.28

Gypsum 2.3 - 2.8 1.94 - 2.36

Iron Ore 4.5 - 5.3 3.79 - 4.47

Lead Ore (Galena) 7.5 6.21

Limestone 2.3 - 2.7 1.94 - 2.28

Marble 2.4 - 2.7 2.02 - 2.28

Mica, schist 2.5 - 2.9 2.09 - 2.43

Quartzite 2.6 - 2.8 2.19 - 2.36

Rhyolite 2.4 - 2.6 2.02 - 2.19

Rock Salt 2.5 - 2.6 2.11 - 2.19

Sandstone 2.2 - 2.8 1.85 - 2.36

Shale 2.4 - 2.8 2.02 - 2.36

Slate 2.7 - 2.8 2.28 - 2.36

Talc 2.6 - 2.8 2.19 - 2.36

Density (in lb/cu ft.) = SG X 62.4

Density (SI units) = SG X Density of water

(1.0 g/cc or 1000 kg/cubic metre)
 Specific Gravity and Porosity of Various Rock Types

Specific Gravity
Rock Type Porosity %
(gm/cc)

Granite 2.60 - 2.70 0.5 - 1.5

Dolerite 3.00 - 3.05 0.1 - 0.5

Sandstone 2.00 - 2.60 5.0 - 25.0

Shale 2.00 - 2.40 10.0 - 30.0

Limestone 2.20 - 2.60 5.0 - 20.0

Dolomite 2.50 - 2.60 1.0 - 5.0

Quartzite 2.65 0.1 - 0.5