Stone, Types of Stone & their Uses

Stone -:

• Stone is considered as one of the most popular building material due to its availability in abundance, high durability, high strength.
•  a hard, compact, naturally occurring substance obtain from the rocks are called Stones.
• Technically, stone are also called as rocks. the rocks occurs in different variety. rocks possess suitable properties often find use as building stones.

Classification of stone -:

Rocks are classified into 3 major categories-

1. Geological classification

2. Physical classification

3. Chemical classification

1. Geological classification -: 

      This classification is based on the formation of rocks. It is further classified into 3 category.

i)  Igneous Rocks

ii) sedimentary rocks 

iii) Metamorphic rocks

i) Igneous Rocks -:

• Igneous rocks are formed by cooling down of magma 
• It can be further classified as -: 

  a) Plutonic Rocks -:

• these rocks are crystallised below earth surface.
• cool down slowly and form course grained Crystal
• generally dark in colur & cooling down at Considerable depth

      Example - Granite , Gabbro, Diorite, Dunite.  

 

  b) Hypabasal Rocks -:

• Formed due to cooling down of megma at Shallow depth.
• Formed fine grained structure.

       Example- Dolerite.

   

  c) Volcanic Rocks -:

• these rocks are crystallised on earth Surface.
• cool down quickly and formed small crystal.
• Generally light in colur.

      Example - Basalt, Trap, Andesite, Pumice, 

                           Rhyolite, Tuff, Dacite, Obsidian. 

Some Igneous rocks are shown in fig. Below

ii) Sedimentary Rocks -: 

• These rocks are formed by deposition due to weathering of pre-existing rocks.

  Example - Sandstone, Limestone, Laterite,                           Gravel, shale, Lignite ( brown coal ),                               Conglomerate, Coal etc.

• Sedimentary rocks are further divided into 3 category- :

i) Clastic deposits

ii) Chemical deposits

iii) Organic deposits

Some sedimentary rocks are shown in fig below-:

iii) Metamorphic Rocks -:

• Metamorphic rocks are formed by metamorphic action ( change in pre-existing character of rock due to heat & pressure ) for a long period of time.
• Metamorphic rocks generally found to have layered appearance.

  Example- 

   Original rocks            Metamorphic rocks 

1. Granite                            Gneiss
2. Synite                             Gneiss
3. Sandstone                     Quartzite
4. Limestone                     Marble, Schist
5. Marl                                 Marble
6. Shale                               Slate, Schist, Phyllite
7. Mudstone.                      Slate
8. Dolomite                         Marble
9. Dolerite, Basalt              Schist
10. Conglomerate                Gneiss, Schist        

Some Metamorphic rocks are shown in fig. Below-:

     

2. Physical classification -:

• Physical classification is based on the structural appearance of the rocks
• It is further divided into 3 category

i) Stratified Rocks

ii) Unstratified Rocks

iii) Foliated Rocks   

i) Stratified Rocks -:

• Stratified Rocks have layered structure along which they can easily split.
• The layers may be thick or thin and of  same or  different colour & Composition.
•  Sedimentary rocks are generally Stratified.

  Example-Shale, Slate, Limestone, Sandstone, Lignite etc.

ii) Unstratified Rocks -:

• Unstratified Rocks does not have layered structure.
• Igneous rocks are generally Unstratified rocks.
• it can't be easily split up into layer's.

  Example - Dolerite, Granite, Basalt, Trap etc.

iii) Foliated Rocks -:

• Foliated rocks have a tendency to split up in a definite direction.

• these rocks are generally belogs to Metamorphic group ,in which layered structure has introduce under lateral pressure.

  Example -: Gneiss, Schist, Phyllite, Slate, Marble etc.

3. Chemical classification -:

• This classification of rocks is based on the chemical composition of the rocks
• It is also further classified into 3 category -:

i) Argillaceous Rocks

ii) Silicious Rocks

iii) Calcareous Rocks

i) Argillaceous Rocks -:

• The principal component of Argillaceous rocks is Alumina & clay ( Al₂O₃)
• These are soft and brittle.
• These are mostly Sedimentary & Metamorphic.

 Example -: Shale, Slate, Laterite etc.

ii) Silicious Rocks -:

• Main Constituents of Silicious rocks is Silica & Sand.

Example -: Sandstone, Basalt, Gneiss, Granite, Quartzite etc.

iii) Calcareous Rocks -:

• Main Components is Lime and Carbonate of Calcium & Magnesium.
• They belongs to Sedimentary and Metamorphic group.
• Carbonates > 50%

Example - Limestone, Marble, Chalk, Dolomite, Kankar etc.

Uses of Stones -:

There are the following uses of stones -:

•  Structures -: Broken stones can be used in Plinth, Foundation, Walls, lintels, stairs, floors, Arches etc.

• Decorative & facework -: it can also uesd for Ornametal face work and Decorating the structure. Stones gives pleasing appearance to the any structures.

• Industrial Purposes -: stone having chemical properties can be used in Farming & Manufacturing industries.

• Paving stones -: used to cover the floor of different types of buildings i.e. Industrial, Residential, Institutional, Commercial etc. These are also used in paving of roads.

• Aggregates -: crushed stones are used as aggregates for various purposes such as concreting, used in road pavement, used in buildings etc.

• Misalliance -: stones are also used as Ballast for Railway, block in bridge, abutment , piers, Retaining walls, dams etc & flux in blast furnace.

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