Sample 1

NAME/TYPE: Basalt, Extrusive Igneous rock

SAMPLE PROPERTIES

Mineralogy

Colour Dark Grey

Hardness 8

Cleavage Perfect

Lustre Shiny

Grain size Fine

Streak Dark grey

Magnetism None

Feel feels very light

Specific gravity 2.8-3.0

Taste None

It has fine interlocking crystal mosaic and has no textural orientation.

Occurrence

Basalt lava flows in bedded sequences. Most basalt magmas are formed

by decompression and melting of the mantle.

Structure

Its structure and shape depends on where it was erupted.

Weathering

Basalt is largely composed of minerals with little resistance to weathering. Hence, it

tends to disintegrate faster than felsic rock types like granite.

Rock strengthDensity dry t/m3

Porosity %

Dry UCS range MPa

Dry UCS mean MPa

Modulus of elasticityGPa

Tensile strength MPa

Shear strength MPa

Friction angle

3.0 4.5 42-355

150 50 4.84 42 48-50

Hydrology

Young lavas are good aquifers.

Value

Basalt can be used in aggregate and roadbeds. It is widely used for railroad track beds.

Sample 2

NAME/TYPE: Diorite, Intrusive Igneous rock

SAMPLE PROPERTIES

Colour

Speckled Black

and white

Hardness 7

Cleavage Perfect

Lustre Metallic

Grain size Coarse grained

Streak Bluish black

Magnetism None

Feel Solid

Specific gravity 2.9

Taste None

Mineralogy

Plutonic rock of felsic composition, with Coarse grained interlocking crystal mosaic. 10% Feldspar  and Quartz at between 5 to 20% of the rock.

Occurrence

Diorite is produced in volcanic arcs, and in mountain building where it usually

occurs in large volumes as batholiths in the roots of mountains. Locations include

Norway and Scotland

Structure

Its structure is characterized by idiomorphic plagioclase, which differentiates it from biotite. Diorite is not widespread and is found with granites and granodiorites, more rarely with other rock.

Weathering

Weathering produces epidote, calcite, sericite and kaolin. 

Rock strength

Value

Since it has good strength and durability, can take a high polish, it can be used as an architectural or even a ornamental stone but usually has the same uses as basalt.

Density dry t/m3

Porosity %

Dry UCS range MPa

Dry UCS mean MPa

Modulus of elasticityGPa

Tensile strength MPa

Shear strength MPa

Friction angle

2.36 NA NA NA NA 15-30 NA NA

SAMPLE 3NAME/TYPE: LIMESTONE, NON CLASTIC SEDIMENTARY ROCK

SAMPLE PROPERTIES

Mineralogy

Mainly calcite, with shell fragments of dolomite and clay minerals.

Colour White

Hardness 3-4

Cleavage None

Lustre Dull

Grain size Coarse-Fine Grain

Streak White

Magnetism None

Feel

Specific gravity 2.3-2.7

Taste None

Occurrence

Chalks are pelagic limestone formed in shallow, marine water debris.

Structure

Usually well bedded in thick extensive successions, nodules of flint and marcasite

usually.

Weathering

Limestone areas are mainly affected by chemical weathering by rainwater, which

contains a weak carbonic acid. When it rains, the limestone dissolves. Rainwater

erodes the vertical joints and horizontal bedding planes. This creates karst scenery.

Rock strengthDensity dry t/m3

Porosity %

Dry UCS range MPa

Dry UCS mean MPa

Modulus of elasticityGPa

Tensile strength MPa

Shear strength MPa

Friction angle

2.5 5-20 48-210

102 48 5-25 10-50 35-40

Foundations

There is massive variability of strong rock with open cavities and fissures

Hydrology

Aquifer is efficient with diffuse and condult flow

Value

Limestone has many uses including, manufacture of paper, lime production, petrochemicals, and aggregate stone.

SAMPLE 4NAME/TYPE: SANDSTONE, CLASTIC SEDIMENTARY ROCK

SAMPLE PROPERTIES

Colour

Varies from

White, Brown,

yellow, red, grey

Hardness 6-7

Cleavage Irregular

Lustre

Dull to

subvitreous

Grain size

medium-grained

Streak

Light Brown or

White

Magnetism None

Feel Sandy, gritty

Specific gravity 2.0-2.65

Taste None

Mineralogy

A wide variety of rock fragments with almost 75% quartz grains.

Occurrence

Mainly in lithified sedimentary sequences which consist of wholly deposits of clastic

fragments.

Structure

Bedding is apparent along with fossils and sedimentary structures.

Weathering

Erodes easily depending on the mineral composition which holds the grains

together. Also affected by physical and chemical weathering. Physical weathering

could crack rock along bedding planes. Single grains often resist weathering like

quartz.

Rock strengthDensity dry t/m3

Porosity %

Dry UCS range MPa

Dry UCS mean MPa

Modulus of elasticityGPa

Tensile strength MPa

Shear strength MPa

Friction angle

2.3 5-25 40-179

96 22 4-25 8-40 35-45

Hydrology

Aquifer is often productive with diffuse flow.

Value

Used mainly for construction, it is easy to work, the red-brown sandstone also known as brownstone has been used in many eastern cities for buildings.

Sample 5

NAME/TYPE: GNEISS, FOLIATED METAMORPHIC ROCK

SAMPLE PROPERTIES

Colour

Black and white

lined

Hardness 7

Cleavage Irregular

Lustre Dull

Grain size

coarse grained

Streak

Lighter and

Darker coloured

gneiss

Magnetism None

Feel Rough patches

Specific gravity 2.6-2.9

Taste None

Mineralogy

Feldspar and quartz are abundant and they form the granular, light coloured layers.

Biotite and muscovite are present, any characteristics regional metamorphism of

minerals might occur.

Occurrence

Gneiss forms through recrystallization of pre-existing rocks under high temperature

and pressure. The rock remains completely solid during metamorphosis and

pressure is usually anisotropic, which then leads to the formation of new minerals.

Structure

Usually coarse grained texture while the other part of it often contains mica, may be

foliated. 

Weathering

Gneiss usually weathers slowly, even though some minerals might be affected by

chemical weathering. 

Rock strengthDensity dry t/m3

Porosity %

Dry UCS range MPa

Dry UCS mean MPa

Modulus of elasticityGPa

Tensile strength MPa

Shear strength MPa

Friction angle

2.7 0.5-1.5 73-340

159 58 5-20 NA 30-40

Hydrology

Zero flow

Value

Used as building stones and others for structural purposes, all part of the construction.Sample 6

Name/Type: Schist, Foliated Metamorphic rock.

SAMPLE PROPERTIES

Colour

Dark red-brown,

Silver

Hardness 6.5

Cleavage Wavy

Lustre Shiny

Grain size Medium grained

Streak

White powdery

colour

Magnetism None

Feel gritty

Specific gravity 2.5-2.9

Taste None

Mineralogy

It is coarse grained. Muscovite and quartz are common. May contain other minerals

also which form as the rock during metamorphism.

Occurrence

There is regional metamorphism of rocks and clays at relatively high temps and

pressure.

Structure

Usually medium or coarse grained, might contain minerals of larger size than the

matrix, this is known as porphyro-blast, for example it may show folding of layers.

Weathering

Many metamorphic minerals are affected by chemical weathering, the crystal sizes

can be very small, causing weathering rapidly.

Rock strengthDensity dry t/m3

Porosity %

Dry UCS range MPa

Dry UCS mean MPa

Modulus of elasticityGPa

Tensile strength MPa

Shear strength MPa

Friction angle

2.7 0.76 NA 48 21 NA NA NA

Hydrology

Aquiclude

Value

Schist is a source for graphite and its also used in building trades and construction

industry.

Sample 7

Name/Type: Magnetite, Mineral

SAMPLE PROPERTIES

Colour Greyish black

Hardness 5.5-6.5

Cleavage Irregular

Lustre Metallic

Grain size

Very small and

black sediments

Streak Black

Magnetism Magnetic

Feel

Metallic and

heavy

Specific gravity 5.2

Taste None

Mineralogy

In magmatic deposits, magnetite occurs with apatite and pyroxenes, while when it is

in contact with metamorphic rocks it is more commonly found with garnet, olivine

and metallic sulfides such as pyrite. When it is in high temperature hydrothermal

veins it is usually associated with galena.

Occurrence

Magnetite occurs in big deposits formed as shallow marine sediments.

Structure

The crystal structure of magnetite contains both the ferrous and ferric forms of ions.

A complicated pattern of electrons between the two forms of iron is the source of its

magnetic nature.

Weathering

Magnetite is susceptible to weathering but is still a common constituent of sand. In

some places sand may be so concentrated in magnetite that it could be used as an

iron ore.

Value

It is one of the most abundant and widespread of all mineral oxides and occurs in a

variety of environments.

Sample 8

Name/Type: Garnet, Mineral

SAMPLE PROPERTIES

Colour

Varies from dark

red to brown

Hardness 6.5-7.5

Cleavage None

Lustre

Vitreous to

resinous

Grain size Coarse grained

Streak White

Magnetism Not magnetic

Feel

It feels quite

heavy

Specific gravity 3.6-4.3

Taste None

Mineralogy

Coarse grained crystal mosaic, garnet minerals crystallize in a cubic system. Garnet

in rocks may demonstrate beautifully developed crystal faces.

Occurrence

Garnet is usually found in some igneous rocks and highly metamorphosed rocks.

They usually form under the same high temperatures and pressures in which those

rocks were formed.

Structure

From what I’ve read, Garnet is a mineral group, not a single mineral. These minerals

share similar crystal structure but they have a variable chemical composition.

Weathering

Garnet is resistant to weathering.

Value

Used as abrasives for grinding and polishing. Not really much of a use in our construction field.

Sample 9

Name/Type: Galena, Mineral

SAMPLE PROPERTIES

Colour Lead grey

Hardness 2.5

Cleavage Perfect

Lustre Metallic, Opaque

Grain size Fine-grained

Streak Lead grey

Magnetism Not magnetic

Feel Feels heavy

Specific gravity 7.4-7.6

Taste None

Mineralogy

Fine grained crystal mosaic. It is usually found in a granular form.

Occurrence

Galena usually occurs in low to medium temperature of hydrothermal veins of

igneous rocks.

Structure

Galena usually shows combinations of many forms of the cubic system. Galena is

also found in a massive and granular form.

Weathering

 When galena gets exposed to the acid mine drainage, it will get oxidized to anglesite

by naturally occurring bacteria.

Hydrology

Galena specimens may usually tarnish when they come in contact with air,

becoming dull in lustre.

Value

Used in transportation in the form of batteries, fuel tanks, and even radiation shielding. Not much used in construction.

Sample 10

Name/Type: Scoria, Extrusive Igneous rock.

SAMPLE PROPERTIES

Colour

Varies from

black-dark grey

to reddish brown

Hardness 5-6

Cleavage Glassy

Lustre Opaque

Grain size Fine-grained

Streak

Usually red or

brown

Magnetism Not magnetic

Feel

Feels relatively

light

Specific gravity 0.8-2.1

Taste None

Mineralogy

Fine-grained mosaic with composed fragments of volcanic glass, and has few mineral crystals.

OccurrenceMagma usually encounters lower pressures, the gases are able to escape and form vesicles. The vesicles are then trapped when the magma cools and solidifies. An example is Mountain Wellington, in New Zealand

StructureScoria is a froth of felsic volcanic glass. It is relatively light and has a low mass but sinks in water, and it also has a glassy nature.

Rock strengthDensity dry t/m3

Porosity %

Dry UCS range MPa

Dry UCS mean MPa

Modulus of elasticityGPa

Tensile strength MPa

Shear strength MPa

Friction angle

2.6 40.07 NA NA NA NA NA NA

ValueFrom what I’ve read, Scoria doesn’t really have much use, in fact its name is derived from the word waste.

REFERENCES

Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils. A.C.Bishop, A.R. Woolley, W.R. Hamilton.

http://www.sandatlas.org

http://geology.com/

http://www.oocities.org/unforbidden_geology/rock_properties.htm

http://academic.emporia.edu/abersusa/go324/igneous.htm

http://flexiblelearning.auckland.ac.nz/rocks_minerals/rocks/diorite.html

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/rock_landscapes/classification_rocks_rev1.shtml

http://minerals-n-more.com/

http://www.mindat.org/min-10272.html

https://wserv3.esc.cam.ac.uk/1acollections/items/browse?collection=6

http://www.edumine.com/xtoolkit/tables/sgtables.htm

http://www.rocksandminerals4u.com/magnetite.html

http://www.moeacgs.gov.tw/english2/twgeol/twgeol_eastern_12.jsp

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/earth-sciences/impact/geology/london/glossary/rocks/metamorphic/schist

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/schist.aspx

https://wwwf.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering/rocklibrary

http://www.kgs.ku.edu/General/Class/metamorphic.html

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/earth-sciences/impact/geology/london/stpancras/weathering/factors

http://myweb.facstaff.wwu.edu/talbot/cdgeol/Structure/SSdikes/Sandstone_dikes.html

http://www.reade.com/Particle_Briefings/spec_gra2.html

http://www.mineralszone.com/stones/limestone.html

http://scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=ajes.2011.203.213&org=10

https://www.bestcrystals.com/hardness.html

http://www.rocks-rock.com/diorite.html

http://www.rockbreaker.com/equipment/rockbreakersystemsmain/26-products/booms/702-rockhardness.html

http://global.britannica.com/science/basalt

http://lib.icimod.org/record/21333/files/c_attachment_76_673.pdf