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ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION (by CRIEPI)

Class Description
A The rock mass is very fresh, and the rock forming minerals and grains
undergo neither weathering nor alteration. Joints are extremely tight and
their surfaces have no visible sign of weathering.
Sound by hammer blow is clear.
B The rock mass is solid. There is no opening joint and crack (even of 1
mm). The rock forming minerals and grains undergo a little weathering
and/ or alteration in partly.
Sound by hammer blow is clear.
CH The rock mass is relatively solid rock. The rock forming minerals and
grains undergo weathering except for quartz. The rock is contaminated by
limonite, etc. The cohesion of joints and cracks is slightly decreased and
rock blocks are separated by firm hammer blow along joints. Clay
minerals remain on the separation surface.
Sound by hammer blows a little dim.
CM The rock mass is somewhat soft. The rock forming minerals and grains
are somewhat softened by weathering and/ or alteration except for quartz.
The cohesion of joints and cracks is somewhat decreased and rock blocks
are separated by ordinary hammer blow along joints. Clay materials on
the separation surface.
Sound by hammer blows is somewhat dim.
CL The rock mass is soft. Weathering and/ or alteration softens the rock
forming minerals and grains. The cohesion of joints and cracks is
decreased and rock blocks are separated by soft hammer blow along
joints.
Sound by hammer blows is dim.
D The rock mass is remarkably soft. Weathering and/ or alteration softens
the rock forming minerals and grains. The cohesion of joints and cracks is
almost absent. The rock mass collapses by light hammer blow. Clay
materials remain on the separation surface.
Sound by hammer blows is remarkably dim.
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ROCK CLASSIFICATION (OBSERVATION OF BORING CORE SAMPLE)

Core shape and Weathering &

Rock class Hardness
Joint interval alteration
B A 1 a A1a
A 2, 3 a, b A2a, A2b, A3a, A3b
CH B 1, 2 b, c B1b, B1c, B2b, B2c
B 3 a, b B3a, B3b
B 3 C B3c
CM B 4 a, b, c B4a, B4b, B4c
C 2, 3 c C2a,C3a
B 5 B, c B5b, B5c
C 3 d C3d
CL
C 4 c, d C4d
C 5 c C5c
C 5 d C5d
D D, E * * D**, E**
* * * **e

HARDNESS

A. Hard rock
B. Medium hard rock
C. Weak rock
D. Very weak rock
E. Decomposed rock

CORE SHAPE AND JOINT INTERVAL

1. Columnar: Joint interval is around 30cm or more.

2. Columnar: Joint interval is approximately 15 to 30cm.
3. Mainly columnar: Joint interval is approximately 5 to 15cm.
4. Short columnar and fragments: Joint interval is approximately less than 5cm.
5. Mainly fragments: Heavily jointed.
6. Mainly sandy – clayey materials.
7. Mainly clayey materials.
8. No core.

WEATHERING AND ALTERATION

a. Fresh / no alteration
b. Slightly weathered /weak alteration
c. Moderately weathered / moderate alteration
d. Highly weathered / high alteration
e. Completely weathered / very high alteration
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ROCK CLASSIFICATION AND ROCK PARAMETERS

Uni-axial Shear strength

Static modulus Modulus of Velocity of
Rock Rock compress
of elasticity deformation Internal elastic wave
Class Grade strength Cohesion
(kg/cm2) (kg/cm2) angle (kg/sec)
(kg/cm2) (kg/cm2)
(deg)
A, B B > 800 > 80,000 > 50,000 > 40 55 - 65 3.7 or moor
CH C 800 – 400 80,000-40,000 50,000-20,000 40 - 20 40 - 55 3.7-3.0
CM D 400 – 200 40,000-15,000 20,000-5,000 20 - 10 30 - 45 3.0-1.5
CL, D E, F 200 or less 15000 or less 5,000 or less 10 or less 15 - 38 1.5 or less
(Dr.K.Kikuchi, Mr.Saito and Mr. K.Kusunoki, ICOLD, May, 1982)

According to Kikuchi rocks are classified into tree groups based on these hardness as
below.

Rock group Uni-axial compressive strength (kgf/cm2)

Hard rock 800 or more

Medium hard rock 200 – 800
Soft rock 200 or less

DESCRIPTION FOR EACH ROCK GRADE (MEDIUM HARD ROCK)

B : Fresh in lithologic character. The constituent grains are quite free secondary
weathering and alteration. Fissures of joint, etc. are little distributed. The rocks
as a whole are almost solid and hard. In this case, those close to soft rocks, which
have the above properties, may not belong to this class. But to Grade C
C : Fresh in lithologic character. The constituent grains are free from secondarily
weathering and alteration Joints are sparsely distributed, assuring close adhesion.
The rocks as a whole are al most solid and hard. In this case, those close to herd
rocks may belong to Grade B.
D : Feldspars and colored minerals existing secondarily as constituent grains are
mostly a little weathered and altered. The weathering secondarily is not so
intensive, but since the rocks are medium hard, they give. A little soft impression
in absolute hardness. Joints are distributed considerably, and most of them are a
little open. The joints are weathered and altered, being discolored and often hold
thin layers and weathered materials. Rocks of this class have hair-like fissures, to
some extent. Therefore, when hit by a rock hammer, they often collapse, being
separated at the hair-like fissures.
E : Constituent grains are weathered and altered, and the degree of consolidation is
very low. Since the rocks are medium hard, they give considerably distributed.
They are open, and hold weathered along hair-like fissures, and when hit lightly
by a rock hammer they collapse easily.
F : Constituent grains are considerably weathered and altered, and the decree of
consolidation is considerably low they are often sandy and clayey with rock of this
class; the distribution of fissures is rather unclear.