Geology for Civil Engineers

Abar, Dimple
Jerus, Christine Joyce
Lasala, Princess Jane
Sesbreño, Marthy Nicole
1 Igneous Rocks
2 Metamorphic Rocks
3
Sedimentary Rocks
4 Summary
5 Importance to Civil Engineering
 COLOR
pink-grey

CLASSIFICATION
GRANITE Plutonic Igneous Rock (Intrusive)

COMPOSITION
Orthoclase, quartz, biotite, muscovite and plagioclase

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
phaneritic (medium to coarse-grained)

CRUSHING STRENGTH
140 MPa

USES
interior spaces or for decorative features (polished granite slabs, tiles,
benches, tile floors), columns, door lintels, sills, moldings and wall and
floor covering, tombstones and monuments, flooring purposes
 COLOR
variable but typically light coloured

CLASSIFICATION

SYENITE Plutonic Igneous Rock (Intrusive)

COMPOSITION
orthoclase, with lesser to minor plagioclase, minor mica, augite,
hornblende,magnetite etc

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
phaneritic (medium to coarse-grained)

CRUSHING STRENGTH
90 to 150 MPa

USES
Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, as Building Stone, as Facing
Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Curbing, as
Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road
Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement,
 COLOR
half dark, half white minerals, grey to dark-grey in colour

CLASSIFICATION

DIORITE Plutonic Igneous Rock (Intrusive)

COMPOSITION
Sodium- Calcium Plagioclase, Quartz, Hornblende, Biotite

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
coarse–grained

CRUSHING STRENGTH
250 MPa

USES
It is used as construction material of roads, buildings and also drainage
stone for erosion control and in the dimension stone industry
 COLOR
Dark grey to black

CLASSIFICATION

GABBRO Plutonic Igneous Rock (Intrusive)

COMPOSITION
predominantly plagioclase and pyroxene ( augite) with lesser olivine

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
phaneritic (medium to coarse-grained)

CRUSHING STRENGTH
more than 280 MPa

USES
used in kitchen stalls, floor tiles, facade stone and other size stone
products, borders, stones, paving stones and other products.
 COLOR
Pink, grey- white

CLASSIFICATION
Plutonic Igneous Rock (Intrusive)

PEGMATITE COMPOSITION
Quartz, feldspar and mica, amphibole, Ca-plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene,
feldspathoids

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
very coarse texture

CRUSHING STRENGTH
178.54 MPa

USES
• used as architectural stone or decorative stone
• used in gemstone mining because of it has large crystal minerals
• used for rare mineral mining.
 COLOR
Dark gray to Black

CLASSIFICATION

DOLERITE hypabyssal igneous rock

COMPOSITION
• Essential: Augite
• Accessory: Plagioclase, Iron Ores, Olivine, Quartz

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
Ophitic texture, Fine to medium, grained

CRUSHING STRENGTH
Very High

USES
Ornamental, memorial, road metal, decorative stones
 COLOR
Dark gray to Black

BASALT CLASSIFICATION
Volcanic Basic Igneous Rock (Extrusive)

COMPOSITION
• Essential: Plagioclase
• Accessory: Augite, Magnetite, Iron pyrite

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
·Fine grained, glassy vesicular

CRUSHING STRENGTH
Low to medium

USES
Road Metal, concrete, aggregates
 COLOR
·Dull white, reddish, brown, brick red, pink

CLASSIFICATION

SANDSTONE ·clastic (Arenaceous rocks)

COMPOSITION
Quartz (Sand Particles) Orthoclase (little) little muscovite and mica

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
Clastic Arenaceous (sandy) medium grained 1/10 mm to 2mm; fine
to coarse

CRUSHING STRENGTH
medium

USES
building, ornamental, structural, road, metal, rail road, ballast, paving
set, concrete aggregates
 COLOR
·white, pink, gray, green, black, multicolored

CLASSIFICATION
non-clastic, crystalline or bioclastic (chemically formed: Carbonate

LIMESTONE deposits)

COMPOSITION
Calcite, Chert, Clay

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
Non-clastic massive fined grained

CRUSHING STRENGTH
medium

USES
Cement manufacture, flooring, ornamental, road metal
 COLOR
reddish brown, brick red, chocolate brown

SHALE CLASSIFICATION
clastic (Argillaceous rocks)

COMPOSITION
Clays, mud, silts fine, sediments

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
clastic fine grained (clayey); compact; may split easily

CRUSHING STRENGTH
·Low to Medium

USES
brick, tiles, cement manufacture
 COLOR
in any color (Dependent on clast and matrix composition)
CONGLOMERATE
CLASSIFICATION
clastic (lithified/mechanically formed)

COMPOSITION
mostly quartz, feldspar, and clay mineral; may contain fragments of other
rocks and minerals;
cementing material: Silica, iron oxide (rust), calcium carbonate (chalky)

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
fragmental (rounded fragments/clast)

CRUSHING STRENGTH
low – high (1-200 MPa)

USES
filling material for construction, aggregate (crushed)
 COLOR
in any color (Dependent on clast and matrix composition)

CLASSIFICATION
BRECCIA clastic
(mechanically formed: weathering, erosion, transportation & deposition)

COMPOSITION
mostly quartz, feldspar, and clay mineral; may contain fragments of other
rocks and minerals

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
fragmental (angular/sharp fragments/clast)

CRUSHING STRENGTH
low to high (1-90 MPa)

USES
decorative architectural element, road base/fill
BRECCIA CONGLOMERATE
KINDS OF METAMORPHISM
Thermal Metamorphism
Dominant factor: heat

Dynamic Metamorphism
Dominant factor: pressure

Dynamo-thermal Metamorphism
Dominant factor: heat & pressure
 COLOR
white/pale, gray, pink, brick red, green

CLASSIFICATION

QUARTZITE non-foliated

METAMORPHISM
thermal/dynamic/dynamothermal metamorphism of sandstone

COMPOSITION
quartz, mica, iron ore, garnet feldspar, pyroxenes, chlorite, etc

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
fine to coarse grained

CRUSHING STRENGTH
high (300 MPa)

USES
building stone, road metal, railroad ballast, load bearing beams
glass making
 COLOR
milky white with shades of yellow, pink, green, brown, blue, grey

CLASSIFICATION

MARBLE non-foliated

METAMORPHISM
thermal metamorphism of limestone

COMPOSITION
calcite, quartz, iron ore, garnet, serpentine, etc

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
fine to coarse grained

CRUSHING STRENGTH
medium (80-140 MPa)

USES
architectural, ornamental, decorative, monumental, flooring
staircases, statues, etc.
 COLOR
gray, dark gray, black

CLASSIFICATION

SLATE foliated

METAMORPHISM
Low grade regional/dynamo-thermal metamorphism of shale

COMPOSITION
clay minerals, mica, quartz(sericite), chlorite, feldspars, iron pyrite,
magnetite & hematite

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
fine grained

CRUSHING STRENGTH
medium (80-140 MPa)

USES
flooring, roofing black boards & slates, mosaic, granules, interior &
sanitary works, table tops electrical switch board refrigerator shelves
 COLOR
Gray, Banded

CLASSIFICATION
Foliated

GNEISS METAMORPHISM
Dynamothermal

COMPOSITION
Oftenly from granite or diorite. Most common minerals are quartz, potassium feldspar,
and sodium feldspar.

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
coarse

CRUSHING STRENGTH
206 MPa to 370 MPa

USES
• For interior and exterior spaces in buildings, walls and landscaping.
• Interior uses of this stone are kitchen decorative walls, flooring or interior decoration.
• Exterior uses are garden decoration, paving stone, facades or building stone.
• For building material such as flooring, ornamental stones, facing stones on buildings.
 COLOR
Shiny, Medium Gray

CLASSIFICATION
Foliated

METAMORPHISM
SCHIST Dynamothermal

COMPOSITION
From many different kinds of rocks, including sedimentary rocks such as
mudstones and igneous rocks such as tuffs. Most schists are composed largely of
platy minerals such as muscovite, chlorite, talc, sericite, biotite, and graphite.

TEXTURE OR GRAINS
Coarse

CRUSHING STRENGTH
For walls and columns, greater than or equal to 40 MPa

USES
• Not usually used in geotechnical engineering due to it’s schistosity.
• Used for building and landscape materials
IMPORTANCE TO CIVIL
ENGINEERING
• Igneous rocks are often used as setts in areas of heavy wear, because they
withstand both weathering and erosion better than most sedimentary
rocks, or even concrete.
• Sedimentary rocks can be found in almost all buildings and public
structures. This makes it substantially important construction material in
civil engineering projects. Examples of their uses are as follows; Building
Construction, Structural Wall Construction, Cement Production,
Concrete Production, Pavement and Road Construction, Tunneling, Brick
and Tile Manufacturing, and Architectural and Monumental Stone.
IMPORTANCE TO CIVIL
ENGINEERING
• Metamorphic rocks are frequently chosen for building materials and
artwork. Not all metamorphic rocks make good construction materials.
Many metamorphic rocks, after enjoying deformation and metamorphism,
are left with many fractures and veins, which leave them weaker, this is
common with heavily shears rocks like mylonites.
• Information on the different classifications and examples of rocks will
provide a better insight for a civil engineer.