Igneous Rocks

Mohs Fracture/Cleavage/ Properties relevant to Engineering

Mineral Composition Color
H Other Properties
colorless, conchoidal fracture. Very resistant to weathering – typically the last component of
white, gray glassy, hexagonal igneous rock left after complete decomposition.
Quartz SiO2 7
crystal form in
Non-ferromagnesian (Felsic)

euhedral crystals
Orthoclase Feldspar white, pink, Cleavage in two sub- Weathers to Kaolinite (non-swelling clay), silica, and potassium
(Potassium Feldspar) buff gray perpendicular carbonate:
KAlSi3O8 6 directions. No 4KAlSi3O8 + 2H2CO3 + 2H2O →
striations 2K2CO3 + Al4(OH)8Si4O10 + 8SiO2

white, pink, Cleavage in two sub- Weathers to Kaolinite (non-swelling clay), sodium and calcium
gray to dark perpendicular bicarbonate, and silica:
Plagioclase Feldspar NaAlSi3O8 CaAl2Si2O8 6 gray directions. Striated. CaAl2Si2O8▪2NaAlSi3O8 + 2H2O + 4H2CO3 →
Ca(HCO3)2 + 2NaHCO3 + Al4(OH)8Si4O10 + 4SiO2
Flaky cleavage in one Very resistant to weathering
Muscovite (mica) KAl2AlSi3O10(OH)2 2-2.5 colorless direction
Identical to Weathers to Limonite and Kaolinite (non-swelling) OR to Chlorite
muscovite except I or Montmorillonite (swelling) in wet environments.
color.
Biotite (mica) K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(OH)2 2-2.5 black 4KMg2Fe(OH)2AlSi3O10 + O2 + 2OH2CO3 →
Ferromagnesian (mafic)

4KHCO3 + *Mg(HCO3)2 + 2Fe2O3▪H2O + Al4(OH)8Si4O10 +

8SiO2 + 8H2O
dark green Two good cleavages Minor but common constituent in granites. Distinctive as black
to black at about 120° . flecks.
Elongate crystals,
Amphibole (hornblende) Ca2(Mg,Fe)4Al[AlSi7O22](OH)2 5-6
more pronounced
cleavage than
pyroxene.
Ca(Mg,Fe)Si2O6 green, gray Two poor cleavages poor cleavage, stubby crystals
Pyroxene 5-6 at about 90°
(Mg,Fe)2Si2O6 green, white
green, Minor constituent in granites but abundant in basalt. Sugary
Olivine (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 6.5-7 yellow Conchoidal fracture texture. Weathers easily
green

CVEN 3698 Engineering Geology

CVEN 3698 Engineering Geology

Metamorphic Rocks
Name Fracture/Cleavage/
Formula H Color Properties relevant to Engineering
Other properties
One direction perfect Very soft, weak, with soapy texture.
cleavage, greasy Appears in schist and serpentine.
Talc Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 1 white Presence of talc in schist increases
tendency for failure in plane of
schistosity.
One direction perfect Distinctive green color. Often occurs with
cleavage talc in serpentine and schist. Weathers to
Chlorite Mg5Al2Si3O10(OH)8 2-2.5 green montmorillonite (swelling clay) Key
mineral for determining metamorphic
grade.
red, pink, Conchoidal fracture, Economically valuable as an abrasive.
6.5-
Garnet (Fe,Mg,Ca)3Al2Si3O12 green, black cubic. Semi-precious Key mineral for determining metamorphic
7.5
gemstone grade.
Sky blue to Stubby blades. The long direction of
white, also One perfect and one cleavage planes can be scratched with a
Kyanite Al2SiO5 5.5-7 grey, green, good direction of knife; the perpendicular cannot. Key
black cleavage mineral for determining metamorphic
grade.
6.5- Colorless to One good cleavage Small fibers or needles with cleavage
Sillimanite Al2SiO5 white perpendicular to long axis.
7.5 direction
One good and one Forms porphyroblasts in slate
poor cleavage
6.5-
Andalusite Al2SiO5 Usually pink direction. Rod shaped
7.5
with almost square
cross-sections.
One poor cleavage Key mineral for determining metamorphic
direction, grade.
Staurolite (Fe,Mg)2Al9Si4O22(OH)2 7 brown
interpenetrating twins
common.
5.5- black, Poor cleavage. Magnetic, valuable as iron ore deposit
Magnetite* Fe3O4 metallic where abundant
6.5
 Sedimentary Rocks
Fracture/Cleavage/
Name Formula H Color Properties Relevant to Engineering
Other Properties
colorless, conchoidal fracture, Very resistant to weathering – typically the last component of
Quartz SiO2 7 white, gray hexagonal crystal igneous rock left after complete decomposition. Cryptocrystalline
form in euhedral xls form (Chert) reacts in alkaline concrete to produce cracking.
colorless, Reacts with HCl, soluble in weakly acidic water (Carbolic acid).
white Three sub- Limestone (rock unit composed predominantly of calcite) subject to
Calcite CaCO3 3 perpendicular solution and cavern formation in wet climates, producing significant
cleavage directions. alternations in structural integrity and hydrologic properites.

Reacts weakly with HCl . Minor constituent in limestone. Tendency

white, gray, toward solution significantly reduced hen dolomite dominates rock
Dolomite CaMg(CO3)2 3.5-4 3 directions not at 90°
pink unit instead of calcite.
1 direction perfect Very soft, non-swelling clay
Kaolinite Al2Si2O5(OH)4 2 white cleavage
red, dark weak parting, Red streak, specular hematite shows bright gray metallic luster.
Hematite Fe2O3 2-6 red, metallic typically not Commercially valuable where abundant as iron ore deposit.
gray expressed
None, yellow-red Non-swelling clay
Limonite 3.5-4 yellow red
FeO•OH•nH2O streak
Pronounced cubic
Halite NaCl 2.5 colorless Rock salt. Extremely soluble in water.
cleavage
colorless, One good and two Shrinks on conversion to Anhydrite (CaSO4) and vice versa.
Gypsum CaSO4•2H2O 2 white poor cleavages Commercially valuable for gypsum board (drywall) manufacture.

CVEN 3698 Engineering Geology