ROCKS

• Rock is a solid cumulative of minerals located in the

lithosphere. They have been used by mankind through history
as a basic construction material
• There are huge variation within each type of rocks, depending
on their engineering properties. Rocks have been used in
various construction works.
• Rocks are used for making bricks, dams, buildings, railway
ballast, pavement material, road metal, concrete aggregates
etc.
• Rocks are extremely important in terms of their stability and
strength as geological material on which construction
foundation are made.
 Quality of Building Stone
Strength: Strength of many building stones are generally higher
than the loads that they are supposed to withstand, in ordinary
type of building constructions.

Class Type Description Compressive Strength

(kg/cm2 )

A Very high strength More than 2240

B High strength 1120-240
C Medium strength 500—1120
D Low strength 200—500
E Very low strength less than 200
Durability: Stones should possess a natural durability to
withstand the destructive effects of various agents continuously
operating on them.

Hardness: The stone used in floors, pavements and aprons of

bridges should be able to resist the abrasive forces caused due to
wear and friction. After test, a hard stone will not show any
scratches.
Specific Gravity and Weight: The stone used for the construction
of dams, weirs, barrages, docks and harbours should be of a
heavier variety. In case of dams and roof coverings, lighter
varieties of stones are preferred. The specific gravity of good
building stones should be between 2.4 and 2.8

Cost: It is an important consideration in the selection of building

stone. The cost of the stone depends the proximity of the quarry
to the place of use, and the transportation available.

Texture: Good building stone should be homogeneous in

structure.
Porosity and Absorption: A good stone should not be porous.
More porous building stones are unsuitable for use in
construction especially for exposed surfaces of structures.

Appearance: It is primary factor of building stone used for face

work, its color and ability to receive polish is an important factor.

Toughness: Building stones should also be tough enough to

withstand stresses developed due to vibrations of machinery and
moving loads over them.
 Igneous Rock
These rocks are formed from an originally hot molten
material through the process of cooling and
crystallization.

• Igneous rocks are typically impervious, hard and strong

foundations for dams and reservoir. They can be also
used as wall and roof rocks in tunnels. Because of their
low porosity they can’t be expected to hold oil and
ground water reserves.
BASALT
 Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary rocks are formed by the deposition and subsequent
cementation of that material at the Earth’s surface and within
bodies of water.

• Sedimentary rocks have a wide variety of uses, making them

extremely important. All buildings and public structures
require sedimentary rock in their construction. The cement,
sand and gravel used to make concrete, iron ore for steel,
brick and tile and even asphalt for the roads.
Limestone is the primary source material for manufacturing
Portland Cement and in construction practice they are used as
building stone and road stone.
SANDSTONE
SHALE
 Metamorphic Rocks

It is a type of rock which has been changed by extreme heat and

pressure, it is created by the physical or chemical alteration by
heat and pressure of an existing igneous or sedimentary material
into a denser form.

• Metamorphic rocks are used for roofing material, decorative

gardening stone, the building material, sculpture material and
paving material.
MARBLE
 Rock Foundation

• Rock foundations are always preferred because rocks offer a

number of advantages compare with soil in terms of stability
and durability.

Rocks such as limestone, granite, sandstone, and shale have a

high bearing capacity which are extensively used for foundation.
 Railway Ballast
It is the foundation of railway track and provide just below the
sleepers. The loads from the wheel of trains ultimately comes on the
ballast through rails and sleepers

Functions of Ballast:
a) To provide firm and level bed for the sleepers to rest on
b) To drain off the water quickly and to keep the sleepers in dry
condition
c) To discourage the growth of vegetation
d) To hold the sleepers in position during the passage of trains
e) To transmit and distribute the loads from the sleepers to the
formation
f) To provide lateral stability to the track as a whole
Rocks in Concrete Aggregate

Concrete is made by mixing fine aggregate, coarse aggregate,

cement and water. The raw material for making cement is also
obtained by rocks.
 Road Metal
• The greater part of the body of road is generally constituted
by the aggregates which bears main stress of all the traffic, so
it is essential to select the right type of aggregate material for
ensuring stability and durability of road.

Road Metal should possess the following quality:

a) Sufficient hardness and toughness
b) Durability at the place of use
c) Cementation property
d) Hydrophobic property
 Flooring and Roofing
• Stones suited for the purpose should be strong and able to
resist abrasion and impact besides giving a pleasing
appearance. Some of the stones used for floor construction:
a) Kota stone
b) Granite
c) Sand stone

GRANITE
KOTA STONE
Slates Roofing