NATURAL ROCKS

BUILDING MATERIALS
INTRODUCTION
Stone is a concretion of earthy or mineral
matter.
It is not only used as it is in various
structures but also in the manufacture of
many materials used in construction.
 INTRODUCTION
Stone has been one of the most
important building materials since
prehistoric times because of its high
strength, durability and pleasing
appearance
It is widely used in building walls,
bridges and dams and for road
surfacing
ROCK VS. STONE

Stone : the natural, hard substance

formed from minerals and earth
material which are present in rocks.

Rock : the portion of the earths crust

having no definite shape and structure.

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 CLASSIFICATION OF ROCKS ACCORDING TO
THEIR ORIGIN

Building stone is obtained by taking rock from the earth

and reducing it to the required shapes and sizes for
construction. It is a natural, richly diverse material that
can vary greatly in its chemistry, structure, physical
properties, and appearance. Geologically, stone can be
classified into three types according to how it was formed:

Igneous rock is rock that was deposited in a molten state.

Sedimentary rock is rock that was deposited by the action

of water and wind.

Metamorphic rock was formerly either igneous or

sedimentary rock. Subsequently, its properties were
transformed by heat and pressure. 5
IGNEOUS ROCKS
Also known as :primary, unstratified or eruptive
rocks
Volcanic origin
Formed as a result of solidification of molten mass
lying below or above the earths surface.

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SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Are also known as aqueous or
stratified rocks.
The properties vary considerably
depending upon the nature of the
sediment and type of bond
between the sediment and
grains.
The rocks are well stratified and
show well defined bedding
planes.
The rocks are soft and can be
easily split up along the bedding
as well as normal planes.
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 METAMORPHIC ROCKS
Formed from igneous or sedimentary
rocks
As a result of the action of the earth
movements, temperature changes,
liquid pressures, etc.
foliated structure, e.g.
slate,
gneiss,
schist and phyallite
non-foliated structure, e.g.
marble,
quartzite
and serpentine.

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 WORDS FAMOUS STRUCTURES
Stone has been used in the construction of most of the
important structures since prehistoric age.

Examples

Taj Mahal of india,

The famous pyramids of Egypt

And the great wall of China

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Stone has also been extensively used in almost all
the elements of building structures, as load carrying
units as well as for enhancing the beauty and
elegance of the structure.

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DISADVANTAGES OF STONE
As building material stone has gradually lost
importance with the advent of cement and steel.

The strength of the structural elements built with

stones cannot be rationally analyzed.

Other major factors in overshadowing its use are

the difficulties in its transportation and dressing
which consume a lot of time resulting in slow
pace of construction.

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ROCK-FORMING MINERALS

Being aggregations of
minerals, the properties
of rocks are dependent
upon the character of
these constituents,
identified by their
physical properties
such as hardness,
cleavage, streak, color,
luster, specific gravity
and shape of crystals.

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ROCK-FORMING MINERALS
Cleavage : the measure of the capability of some
minerals to split along certain planes parallel to the
crystal faces.

Streak : the color of the mineral in powder-form.

Color : a valuable characteristic of metallic minerals, but

less reliable for non-metallic minerals.

Luster : shine on the surface of a mineral and its

appearance under reflected light is classified as vitreous
(glassy), greasy, pearly, resinous, dull, silky and metallic.

Crystal: The crystal form is of importance when a

mineral has had the opportunity to develop its natural
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ROCK-FORMING MINERALS

Some minerals feature great strength,

hardness and resistance to chemical attack
(quartz); others have poor strength and
readily soak in water (gypsum); some
minerals display a great tendency to
cleavage and split readily along one or
several directions (mica), thus decreasing the
strength of the rock they make up. Some of
the important properties of minerals are as
follows:

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CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDING
STONE
For commercial purposes, ASTM C119
classifies stone:

Granite,
Limestone,
Quartz-Based Stone,
Slate,
Marble
Other.

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 GRANITE GROUP
igneous rock most commonly quarried
for construction in North America.
can be obtained in a range of colors -
gray, black, pink, red, brown, buff, and
green.
nonporous, hard, strong, and durable,
suitable for use in contact with the
ground where exposed to severe
weathering.
Its surface can be nished in any of a
number of textures, including a mirror
like polish.

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 LIMESTONE GROUP
one of the two principal sedimentary rock
types used in construction.
found in a strongly stratified form or in
deposits that with little stratification
( freestone).
composed either of calcium carbonate or
of a mixture of calcium and magnesium
carbonates . (Both types were formed
long ago from the skeletons or shells of
marine organisms)
colors : white-gray , buff to iron oxide red.

porous and contains considerable

groundwater (quarry sap) when quarried.

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 QUARTZ-BASED STONE GROUP
sandstone is the second major
sedimentary rock type used in
building construction.
may be found in either a strongly
stratified form or as more
homogeneous freestone.
formed in ancient times from deposits
of quartz sand (silicon dioxide).
color and physical properties vary
significantly with the material that
cements the sand particles.
brownstone, - widely used in wall
construction
bluestone - a highly stratified, durable 18
 SLATE GROUP
one of the two metamorphic stone
groups utilized in construction.

was formed from clay.

a dense, hard stone with closely

spaced planes of cleavage, along
which it is easily split into sheets,
making it useful for paving stones,
roof shingles, and thin wall facings.

in a variety of colors including black,

gray, purple, blue, green, and red.
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 MARBLE GROUP
the second of the major metamorphic
rock groups.
it is a re-crystallized form of limestone.
easily carved and polished
color white, black, and nearly every color,
often with beautiful patterns of veining.
The physical properties and appearance
of marble vary greatly, depending on the
chemistry of the original limestone from
which it was formed and, even more so,
on the processes by which it was
metamorphosed.

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 OTHER GROUP
a variety of less frequently used
building stones.
Travertine rare, partially
crystallized, and richly patterned
calcite (having a chemistry similar
to that of limestone) rock deposited
by ancient springs. It is marble like
in its physical qualities.

alabaster
greenstone
schist
serpentine
soapstone.
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PRODUCTION OF BUILDING STONE

The two main steps in the preparation of

building stones for use are:
Quarrying

Shaping and finishing

QUARRYING

The overburden soil or inferior stone is removed from

the surface.
Large blocks of stone (1m by 1.5 or 3m) are cut,
loosened at the bottom by wedging, and removed by
cranes
(a) An overhead crane lifts a rough block of granite from the
storage yard to transport it into the plant. The average block in
this yard weighs 60 to 80 tons.
(b) Two reciprocating gang saws slice blocks of limestone into
slabs. The saw at the right has just completed its cuts, while the
one at the left is just beginning. The intervals between the
parallel blades are set by the saw operator to produce the
desired thicknesses of slabs. Water cools the diamond blades of 24
SHAPING AND FINISHING

The large blocks of stone are cut to

desired shape
and given whatever degree of finishing
is desired
Saws and planners are used in cutting
the stone block to shape
(c) A slab of granite is ground to produce a flat surface prior to
polishing operations.
(d) If a textured thermal finish is desired on a granite slab, a
propaneoxygen torch is passed across the slab under controlled
conditions to cause small chips to explode off the surface.

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(e) A layout specialist, working from shop drawings for a
specific building, marks a polished slab of granite for cutting.
(f) The granite slab is cut into finished pieces with a large
diamond circular saw that is capable of cutting 2.1 m per
minute at a depth of 76 mm.

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(g) Small pneumatic chisels with carbide-tipped bits are used for
special details in granite.
(h) Hand polishers are used to finish edges of granite that
cannot be finished by automatic machinery.

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 (i) Cylindrical components of limestone are turned on
a lathe.
( j) A cylindrical column veneer is ground to its true
radius.

Lathe = torno
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(al)
(k) Linear shapes of Indiana limestone, a relatively soft stone, can
be formed by a profiled silicon carbide blade in a planer. The
piece of stone is clamped to the reciprocating bed, which passes
it back and forth beneath the blade. The blades pressure and
depth are controlled by the operators left hand pressing on the
wooden lever. Here the planer is making a stepped profile for a
cornice.
(l) Working freehand with a vibrating pneumatic chisel, a carver
finishes a column capital of Indiana limestone. Different shapes
and sizes of interchangeable chisel bits rest in the curl of the 30
This 9-ton Corinthian
column capital was carved
from a single 30-ton block
of Indiana limestone.
Rough cutting took 400
hours and carving another
500. Eight of these capitals
were manufactured for a
new portico on an existing
church.

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SELECTION OF BUILDING STONE
Durability
Appearance

And cost

Are usually the principal factors

considered in the selection of the most
suitable stone for a given use
SELECTION OF BUILDING STONE
The range of changes of temperature
The average humidity of the atmosphere
The possibility of stones being subjected to high
temperatures by fire
And of being subjected to abrasion

are among the consideration that must be taken in

account
SELECTION OF BUILDING STONE
The strength of stone is not of great importance,
because stones in masonry structures can never be
loaded to their full capacity on account of the
comparative weakness of the mortar joints
On the other hand, the hardness of a stone, which is
related to strength is an important property for a
construction where the stone is to be subjected to
abrasive forces
PROPERTIES OF STONES
Durabillity
Strength
Hardness
Porosity
Water absorption
Coefficient of thermal expansion
HARDNESS

Hardness is probably the most important property for rapid determination of

minerals. It is measured by scratching the mineral with a series of substances
of known variation in hardness using the following scale of Mohs :

Talc, easily scratched with the thumb-nail: 1

Gypsum, scratched by the thumb-nail: 2
Calcite, not scratched by thumb-nail but easily cut by knife: 3
Fluorite, can be cut by knife with greater difficulty than calcite: 4
Apatite, can be cut only with difficulty by knife: 5
Orthoclase, can be cut with knife with great difficulty on thin edges: 6
Quartz, not scratched by steel, scratches glass: 7
Topaz: 8
Sapphire: 9
Diamond: 10

If, for example, a given substance is scratched by fluorite and not by calcite its hardness is
between 3 and 4.

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STRENGTH
The strength of stones is affected by different factors
such as:
Mineral composition
Rate of cooling of igneous rocks
The manner of formation and the size of the
component crystals of sedimentary rocks
The type and degree of metamorphism of
metamorphic rocks
STRENGTH
The compressive strength of stones varies from very low values
up to 3500 kgf/cm2 or more so no specific values can be
stated
The compressive strength of stones is important for
foundations or when it is used in stone masonry
However the compressive strength of most stones is
sufficiently high to be used in structures
DURABILITY
The durability of stones is the ability to resist
weathering action, chemical attack, abrasion, frost,
heat and other conditions of service
Both durability and strength of a stone are affected
by the texture, mineral composition, chemical
characteristics, and physical characteristics of the
stone
POROSITY AND WATER ABSORPTION
Porosity is the proportion of the total volume of pores in the
stone to its total volume. While some of the pores are
impermeable, and some permeable
The total volume of the pores affects the strength of stone. The
strength of stone decreases with the increased volume of
pores.
The water absorption capacity of stone is related to the amount
of permeable pores
The absorption capacity of a stone can be found as follows:

Absorption%= Weight of water absorbed x 100

Dry weight of stone

COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL
EXPANSION
Stones expand upon being heated. However unlike most
materials they do not return to their original volume when
cooled after heating.
The coefficient of expansion of a stone is related to the amount
of its expansion upon being heated, and contraction when
cooled.
METAMORPHIC ROCKS

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U.S. Military Academy in
West Point, New York
(Gneiss)

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Lumpkin House on the

campus of University of
Georgia
(Athens
Gneiss)

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Green Slate in Keswick,

Cumbria, England

(Green Slate)

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Slate in Rockmart, Georgia

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Church in Rockmart , Georgia

(Gray slate)

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Marble in the U.S. Post Office,

Athens, Georgia, U.S.A.

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IGNEOUS ROCKS

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

The Venable Stonehenge

Mansion, Atlanta, Georgia

(Stone Mountain Granite)

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

A gymnasium Arco, Idaho

(Vesicular basalt)

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

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SEDIMENTARY ROCKS :
SANDSTONES

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 ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Sandstone at Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire

(Carboniferous Sandstone)

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Old Red Sandstone at Cawdor Castl

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SEDIMENTARY ROCKS :
LIMESTONES

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Ammonitic limestone in the

Arena of Verona, Italy

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Ordovician Dolostone, Prairie du

Chien, Wisconsin

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

"Tennessee Marble" in the

Tennessee State Supreme
Court building

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Barn at the Tallgrass

Prairie National Preserve,
Strong City, Kansas

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 ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

The Roman Amphitheater in Arles, France

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

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OTHER SEDIMENTARY MATERIALS

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Chert Nodules in a Church,

Great Sampford, England

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 ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

nnsbruck's Cathedral of St. Jakob

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Quartz Pebbles - First

Methodist Church of Elberton,
Georgia

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MULTIPLE KIND OF ROCKS

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Old Service Station east of

Hagerstown, Indiana

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ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Ballast stones in an old

building in Savannah, Georgia

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 Sports Hall by
3LHD Architects,
Croatia

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 ARCH 261 - BUILDING MATERIALS

Timber and stone house

design

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