BUILDING STONES

WHAT IS STONE?
The hard, solid, non metallic mineral matter of which rock is made, a building material.

STONE -As A Building Material

Stones have been considered as one of the popular building material from the olden days due to
their availability in abundance from the natural rocks.
Building stones should possess enough strength and durability.
The stones which are suitable for the construction of the structures such as retaining walls,
abutments, dams, barrages, roads etc are known as building stones.
 Common Uses Of Building Stones:

1. Millions of tones of crushed rock are needed annually for road base, paving
2. Ready-mixed concrete and asphalt.
3. Sandstone which is not so hard-wearing or beautifully patterned is used for
4. Garden walls and paths in landscaping.
5. Basalt: It is quarried and crushed as "Blue Metal" which is used as a road-base, and in
reinforced concrete as aggregate.
6. Although wood, straw and mud is used for houses in some parts of the world, most buildings
are preferred to be built of stones.
7. Building wells
8. Material for foundation and walling of buildings, dams, bridges, etc.
9. Aggregate
10. Stone walls
11. Roof tile in the form of slates
12. Murram for covering and flooring of road surface
13. Limestone for burning lime and for the manufacture of Portland cement
14. Shale is a component of bricks and may also be used in manufacturing of cement
15. Nite, another stone type is used for architectural construction, ornamental stones and
monuments
16. Marble is widely used in construction industry, for aesthetic purposes,
 CLASSIFICATION OF ROCKS

Geological Classification Physical or Petrological Classification

• Igneous Rocks • Stratified Rocks
• Sedimentary Rocks • Unstratified Rocks
• Metamorphic Rocks • Foliated or Fragmented Rocks

Hardness Classification Chemical Classification

• Soft Rocks • Crystalline Siliceous or Siliceous
• Medium Rocks Rocks
• Hard Rocks • Calcareous Rocks
• Very Hard Rocks • Argillaceous Rocks
 GEOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
 Igneous Rocks:
• These are primary rocks
• Formed from molten magma
• Represent different structural features
depending upon the condition of solidification
and composition
• Generally igneous rocks are strong and durable
• Also called un stratified or eruptive rocks
• Examples: granite, basalt, trap, etc.
 Sedimentary Rocks:
• These are secondary rocks
• Formed by the denudation and deposition of
previously existing rocks due to weathering
actions. Such as Water (rain), frost, winds and
chemical actions
• Also called aqueous and stratified rocks
• Examples: Lime stone, sand stone, etc.
 Metamorphic Rocks:
• Formed due to metamorphic action of pressure or
internal heat or by both (or) alteration of original
structure due to heat and excessive pressure
• Examples: Marble etc.
• New minerals are produced by this metamorphism
• As such rocks are heated to temperatures below
but not far from those that would melt the rocks,
they become soft, recrystallize further, and can be
deformed into crenulated light and dark units that
resemble layers, forming rocks called gneisses
• Examples of slate, schist and gneiss
 PHYSICAL OR PETROLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
 Stratified Rocks:
• Stratified rocks show a layered structure in their
natural environment
• Possess planes of stratification or cleavage
• Can be easily split up along those planes
• Sedimentary rocks are distinctly stratified rocks
• Examples: sandstone, limestone, slate, etc.
 Unstratified Rocks:
• Do not show any sign of strata and cannot be
easily split into thin layers
• Their structure may be crystalline or granular
• Granite, trap and marble are the common
examples of unstratified rocks
 Foliated or Fragmented Rocks:
• There are two basic types of
metamorphic rocks:
• which have a layered or banded
appearance that is produced by
exposure to heat and directed pressure
called foliated metamorphic rocks such
as gneiss, phyllite, schist and slate
• which do not have a layered called non-
foliated metamorphic rocks such as
marble and quartzite
 CHEMICAL CLASSIFICATION

 Crystalline Siliceous or Siliceous Rocks:  Argillaceous or Clay Rocks:

• The stones which contain (Silica SiO2) as principal • Stones which contain (alumina Al2O3) (clay) as
constituent are called silicious rocks principal constituent
• These stones are durable stones • These stones are less durable stones
• Examples: granite, Quartzite and Sand stone etc. • All clay stones belong to this group
• Examples: Slate, Laterite, etc.
 Calcareous Rocks:
• The stones which contain calcareous material
(CaCO3) as principal constituent are called
calcareous rocks
• They also contain some proportion of siliceous
and clay matter
• Examples: marble stone and lime stone, etc.
 COMMON BUILDING STONES, THEIR
COMPOSITIONS, PROPERTIES, USES AND
OCCURRENCE IN INDIA
1. Granite:
Composition:
It is igneous rock. Its main constituent minerals are Quartz, (hard and least affected by carbon dioxide and water)
Felspar (crystalline, lustrous, readily attacked by atmospheric agencies) and Mica (dark grey, black or brown in
color, soft, readily affected by chemicals and atmospheric agencies).
Characteristics:
(i) Its specific gravity is 2.64 and absorption less than 1%.
(ii) It has mottled appearance.
(iii) Significantly strong and durable.
(iv) Finely grained granite takes a fine polish.
(v) Crushing strength varies from 110 to 140 MN/m2.
(vi) It has least fire resistance as it cracks under a strong fire.
(vii) Its color depends upon that of felspar.
Uses:
(i) Fine grained granite is suitable for ornamental columns, plinth etc., as it takes a polish.
(ii) Owing to the hardness, weight and durability of granite it is considered most suitable for the construction of sea
walls, light houses, bridge piers etc.
(iii) Large pieces are used as building blocks, the smaller as road metals or railway ballast and the chippings for the
manufacture of concrete or artificial stone.
Occurrence:
Jhansi (U.P.), Jabalpur (M.P.), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Dalhousie and Kangra (Himachal). The best specimens are
available in Secunderabad (Andhra Pradesh).
2. Basalt or Trap:
Composition:
It is an igneous rock (silicious variety). The main constituents are silica, alumina and felspar.
Characteristics:
(i) Very hard and tough.
(ii) Heavier than granite.
(iii) Has greenish grey to dark grey colour.
(iv) Crushing strength varies from 70 to 80 MN/m2.
(v) Specific gravity = 2.96.
Uses:
(i) Suitable for paving sets and as a road metal.
(iii) Used for the manufacture of artificial stone.
(iii) Used as aggregate in concrete.
Occurrence:
Madhya Pradesh and Deccan traps (along western coast) and Rajmahal trap (Bihar).
3. Slate:
Composition:
It is a metamorphic rock (Argillaceous variety). It is composed of alumina mixed with sand or carbonate of
lime.
Characteristics:
(i) Its specific gravity is 2.8.
(ii) A good slate is hard, tough and fine grained.
(iii) It has grey or dark blue colour.
(iv) It can be split into thin sheets.
(v) Its crushing strength varies from 60 to 70 MN/m2.
(vi) It is non-absorbent.
(vii) When struck with a light hammer, it produces a sharp metallic ring.
(viii) Its durability is good.
Uses:
(i) Used for making electrical switch boards.
(ii) Because of its non-absorbent property, it is suitable for use in cisterns, urinals partitions, etc.
Occurrence:
Gurgoan (Haryana), Gurdaspur (Punjab), Cuddadh (Andhra), Chanda (Maharashtra), Chindwara (M.P),
Bijapur (Mysore), Alwar (Rajasthan), Chamba, Simla, Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), Baroda (Gujarat).
4. Gneiss:
Composition:
It is a metamorphic rock. It is also sometimes called stratified granite as it occurs in somewhat parallel
layers. Its constituents are the same as granite, i.e., quartz and felspar.
Characteristics:
(i) It can be readily split into slabs.
(ii) It is more easily worked than granite.
(iii) As it is available in different colours, it is used for ornamental and decorative purposes.
(iv) It is reasonably good material for street paving.
Occurrence:
It is largely found in Madras State, Mysore and Bihar.

5. Sandstone:
Composition:
It is a sedimentary rock of silicious variety. It contains sand or quartz cemented by lime, mica, magnesium,
aluminium, oxide of iron or by a mixture of these materials. Sometimes fragments of limestone, mica or felspar
are also present.
Characteristics:
(i) Its structure shows sandy grains.
(ii) Its usual colours are white, grey, brown, pink etc.
(iii) Its specific gravity is 2.25.
(iv) Crushing strength varies from 35 to 40 MN//m2.
(v) Fine grained stones are strong and durable.
(vi) The sandstone of thin-bedded variety is called flag stone. It splits easily into large slabs along the bedding.
(vii) The rock composed of angular sharp edged sand grains is called grit; it is adequately strong and heavy
and is used in heavy engineering works.
(viii) The sandstone that can be cut easily with mallet and hammer into blocks for building is referred as free
stone.
(ix) Its durability depends upon the nature of cementing material. The quantity of sandstone is poor if it is
porous or contains lime.
Uses:
(i) The fine grained and compact variety is suitable for ashlar work, mouldings, carvings etc.
(ii) The rough and coarse grained stone is employed for rubble work.
Occurrence:
The best variety stones which can easily be quarried in large flawless blocks are available in Mirzapur;
Chunar; Fatehpur Sikri; Gwalior (M.P.); Hemanagar near Ahmedabad (Gujarat); Nagpur (Maharashtra);
Kangra and Dharamsala (H.P.), Shahpur and Kasauli Rajpur, and Jabalpur; Dehri; Mandhum and Ranchi
(Bihar); Cuttack and Mysore.
6. Limestone:
Composition:
It is a sedimentary rock of calcareous variety. When in pure state it contains CaCO3, but frequently is mixed
with MgCO3 and small amount of silica and alumina. When both MgCO3 and CaCO3 are present nearly in
equal proportion it is known as Dolomite.
Characteristics:
(i) Its specific gravity is 2.6.
(ii) It is available in brown, yellow and dark grey colours.
(iii) Crushing strength = 52 MN/m2.
Uses:
(i) It is used in large quantities in blast furnaces, bleaching, tanning and other industries.
(ii) If compact and fine grained it may be used as stone masonry for walls and paving set in floor.
(iii) It is used as road metal (when better materials like trap, basalt or granite are not available).
Occurrence:
It is found in Alwar (Rajasthan), Hoshiarpur (Punjab), Simla (H.P.), Mirzapur, Ranchi (Bihar) and Mysore
etc.
7. Marble:
Composition:
It is metamorphic rock of calcareous verity. It is changed from limestone. It is crystalline hard
compact stone having CaCO3 as the main constituent.
Characteristics:
(i) It is available in white, yellow, grey, green, red, blue and black colours.
(ii) It is very hard and takes a fine polish.
(iii) Its specific gravity is 2.72.
(iv) Chrushing strength varies from 50 to 60 MN/m2.
(v) It can be easily worked.
Uses:
(i) It is used for carving and decoration work.
(ii) It is also used for steps, wall linings, electrical switch boards, table slabs and columns.
Occurrence:
White marbles of high purity are found in Jodhpur and Ajmer (Rajasthan) and Jabalpur (M.P.),
Green marbles in Baroda (Gujarat), black marbles in Jaipur (Rajasthan) and yellow marbles in
Jaisalmer (Rajasthan).
8. Kankar:
Composition:
It is an impure limestone containing 30 percent of clay and sand.
Characteristics:
(i) It is available in grey or khaki colour.
(ii) It has porous structure.
(iii) It occurs in solid layers or as irregular shaped modules a few metres below the surface.
(iv) Hard kankar is adequately durable
Uses:
(i) Nodular kankar when burnt yields excellent hydraulic lime; when clean, hard and tough is used as road
metal.
(ii) Hard kankar is employed for foundations of buildings.
9. Laterite:
Composition:
It is basically igneous but not completely metamorphic. It is sandy clay stone containing high percentage of
iron oxide.
Characteristics:
(i) It has a porous and cellular structure.
(iii) It is readily quarried in blocks.
(iii) It is of reddish, brown, yellow, dark brown and black colours.
(iv) Its specific gravity varies from 2 to 2.2.
Uses:
(i) Laterite blocks are suitable as building stones.
(ii) Nodular laterite proves a very good road metal.
Occurrence:
It is available in some districts in Bihar and Orissa, in Madhya Pradesh, in Kangra (Mysore) and in Burma.
10. Moorum:
Composition:
It is a decomposed laterite.
Characteristics:
It has deep brown or red colour.
Uses:
(i) Due to its rich red colour, it is used in surfacing fancy paths and garden walks.
(ii) It serves as a fine blind age for metaled rods.
Occurrence:
It is found in some parts of Madhya Pradesh.

11. Gravel:
It is mixture of rounded water worn pebbles of any kind of stone with sand. It is usually available in river
beds. The size of the pebble varies from minute grains to 8 cm in diameter. It is suitable for surfacing
road and is also used in concrete.
12. Chalk:
It is pure, white limestone. It is soft and can be easily powdered. It is largely used for the
manufacture of Portland cement. It is also used for marking and as a colouring matter. It is
unsuitable for building purposes.

13. Shingles:
These are large water-worn pebbles found in river beds. Broken shingles are used in concrete and
as road metal when no better stuff is available at reasonable cost.

14. Quartzite:
It is composed of silica and is dense, hard and glassy in structure. Some of the varieties are
considered as the hardest and strongest type of building stones. It is strong and durable and used
as road metal or railway ballast or in concrete.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD BUILDING STONES
1. Crushing Strength:
For a good structural stone, the crushing strength should be greater than 100 N/mm3. The approximate values of
crushing strength of some of the stones are

2. Appearance and colour: Stones with much iron should be discouraged as the formation of iron oxides
disfigures them and brings about disintegration.
3. Weight: Building stones must be heavy
4. Porosity and absorption: Stones with much pores are unsuitable because of
water seeping into pores with acids and fumes destroy the stone. Water may
freeze at colder climate and hence split the stone.
5. Fineness of grains: Fine grained are suitable for moulding works.
6. Compactness: Stone’s durability is decided by its compactness.
7. Resistance to fire: Stone should be homogenous in composition and free form
calcium carbonate or oxide of iron.
8. Electrical resistance: The electrical resistance decreases when it gets wet. A
stone should be non-absorbent (like Slate) to have steady and high electrical
resistance.
9. Resistance to Fire: The minerals composing stone should be such that shape of stone is
preserved when a fire occurs. The failure of stones in case of a fire is due to various
reasons such as rapid rise in temperature, sudden cooling, different coefficients of linear
expansions of minerals, etc. The free quartz suddenly expands at a temperature lower
than 600°C.
10.Fracture: For a good building stone, its fracture should be sharp, even, bright and clear with grains
well cemented together. A dull, chalky and earthly fracture of a stone indicates signs of early
future decay.
11.Hardness and toughness: A good building stone must be hard and tough. Hardness
may be tested by scratching by pen knife and toughness by subjecting it to hammer
action.
12.Strength: Building stones should be strong in compression.
13.Durability: Compact, homogeneous stones having negligible water absorption are
durable.
14.Seasoning: The stones after quarrying and dressing should be left for a period of 6 to 12
months.
15.Specific Gravity: For a good building stone, its specific gravity should be greater than 2.7 or so.
The heavy stones are more compact and less porous and they can be used for various engineering
applications such as dams, weirs, retaining walls, docks, harbours, etc. On the other hand, if
stones are to be used for domes, roof coverings, etc., the lighter varieties of stones are preferred.
16.Weathering: A good building stone should possess better weathering qualities. It should be
capable of withstanding adverse effects of various atmospheric and external agencies such as rain,
frost, wind, etc. The best way to know the resisting power of a stone to the action of weather is to
study the performance of buildings constructed with the similar stones in the locality or at a place