Adama Science and Technology University

School of Civil and Architectural Engineering

Department of Civil Program
CTM 2205- Construction Materials
CHAPTER 2
BUILDING STONES

Instructor: Abdissa G. (MSc.)

E mail:[email protected]
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Chapter Objectives
To develop a basic understanding for:
 Types of building stone.
 Properties stone
 Production process of stone
 Building stone requirement
 Common stone for construction
 Tests on building stone
 CHAPTER Content:
2.1. Classification of Stone
2.2. Properties of different stone
2.3 Production of Stone
2.4. Building-Stone Requirements
2.5. Common Stones for Construction Purpose
2.6. Tests on Building Stone

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2. BUILDING STONE
 Stone is a naturally occurring material and is usually obtained from
quarries for construction purposes

o Quarried or smaller pieces of rock for a specified function such

as a building block.

 Rock : A large concreted mass of earthy or mineral matter or broken

pieces of such a mass.
2.1 Classification of Stone
Rocks from which building stones are obtained are classified on the basis of:

I) Their geologic nature

 Igneous Rocks,  Metamorphic Rocks.

 Sedimentary Rocks,
II) Their chemical composition

 Siliceous,  Calcarious.
 Argillaceous,
III) Layer
 Stratified,  Foliated ( a structure having thin layer) .
(arranged in a sequence of layers)
 Un-stratified,
CLASSIFICATION OF STONES
(according to geological origin):
2.1.1. GEOLOGICAL CLASSES OF ROCKS
 Igneous: Un-stratified rocks formed by cooling and thus solidifying (
crystallization) from a molten lava (magma)

 with in the earth ( Granite)

 at surface of earth (Basalt)

Unstratified rock
2.1.1. GEOLOGICAL CLASSES OF ROCKS
 Sedimentary : Formed from weathering deposits (sediments) by wind or water

 By a process of cementation of small particles that result from the

o Disintegration of rocks.

o Perception from solution

o Accumulation organic matter

 Stratified rocks
o Limestone,

o Sandstone

o Gypsum
2.1.1. GEOLOGICAL CLASSES OF ROCKS
Metamorphic Rocks :
 Formed by gradual changes in the structures, texture, or composition of

o Either igneous or sedimentary rocks.

 Caused to the natural agencies

o Heat, water, pressure.

 Through Metamorphism Crystalline & more harder foliated rocks formed

o i.e. Marble, Slate, Laterite, Gneiss, Quartzite

2.1.2 Chemical Classification
Chemically, rocks are classified on the basis of their major constituent mineral.

 Argillaceous rocks are

o Alumina (Al2O3) clay is the main constituent
o Slate, Laterite
 Calcareous rocks are those where the constituent is
o Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) lime is the main constituent.
o Limestone, marble
 Silicious rocks are composed primarily of
o Silica (SiO2) is the major constituent
o Siliceous rocks are hard and durable.
o They are not easily affected by weathering actions.
o Granite, Sandstone
2.2. Properties of different stone
 Granite : Intrusive igneous rock

o Intrusive:crystallized slowly within the earth

o Strong, hard & non-porous durable rock

o It contains silica in the form of quartz, feldspar and mica.

o These crystals often result in very attractive coloring blue, green, red,
black or white.

o The coloring depends on the account of the range of the minerals they
contain.
Used for:
flooring
wall paneling, column
stair threads
flagstone
2.2. Properties of different stone
 Basalt : Extrusive igneous rock

 Extrusive:rapidly crystallized on the surface of earth.

 Hard & strong but it is porous & have fractures.

 Fine grained rock is mostly black or very dark in color.

 At times it contains iron-bearing minerals that make it deflect a

magnetic needle.

BASALT
2.2. Properties of different stone
 Limestone: Sedimentary rock

 Limestone is sedimentary rock that contains

o Carbonate of lime (CaCo3),

o Remains of shells, or

o Skeletons of prehistoric animals,

 Originate from the biological deposition of shells and skeletons of plants

and animals.

 In most limestone's, the lime plus magnesium carbonate content exceeds

75%;

 However, when the silica content is high the stone might be classified as

sandstone.
 2.2. Properties of different stone
 Limestone : In its pure form, limestone is white,

 Generally however, it is found in brown, or other color depending on

its content of:
 Clay,
 Iron oxide or
 Other impurities.

 Used for: LIMESTONE

 Used for external and internal walls and as polished floor finishing materials

 It is used as a concrete aggregate

 It is used in the production of cement & lime

2.2. Properties of different stone
 Sandstone:-

 Consist of grains of sand (silica grains) cemented together by natural

cementing agents such as

 Clay,

 Iron oxide,

o Result of the solidification of sand beds that either contained the

cementing substance or were impregnated with it during the process of

solidification.

o Major constituent mineral of sandstone is quartz, making as much as

95% of the whole rock.

o The rest is the oCementing material, oBroken shells and

oGravel, oOther minerals.
2.2. Properties of different stone
 Marble : Metamorphosed limestone

 Is a metamorphic, crystalline,, recrystallized limestone by heat or

pressure.

 Harder than limestone

 Wide range of colors, textures, grains, working qualities, and finish

properties.

 The attraction of marble results from the presence of impurities that

form into veins or mottled bands during the process.

 Marble may be white, black and white, green, blue, gray, pink or
yellow colored.

 Used for: flooring, wall & column facing

2.2. Properties of different stone
Slate
o Metamorphosis of clays and shale's deposited in layers.

o May be separated into thin, tough sheets called slates .

o Colors are black, green red, grey, or purple.

o It is a dense and hard stone

USES

o Window sills

o Slate is particularly suitable as a roofing material as it has an extremely low

water absorption index of less than 0.4%.

o Slate tiles are often used for

 Interior and exterior flooring, Stairs, Walkways and Wall cladding.

2.2. Properties of different stone
 Pumice and Scoria (red ash)

o Pumice is formed as a result of steam or gas bubbling out of molten lava

leaving behind empty pockets that give the solidified lava spongy
appearance.

o It has a granular texture and is very light to the extent it can float on water.

o It is usually white-gray to yellow in color, but may be red, brown or sometimes

black, according to the oxides, or impurities it contains.

o Scoria or volcanic ash (red ash), has generally a porous rough surface, and is
usually red to black in color.
2.2. Properties of different stone
 Laterites are soil types rich in iron and aluminium,
formed in hot and wet tropical areas.

 Nearly all laterites are rusty-red because of iron oxides.

USES

 Used in wall Construction and

 Rough stone masonry work.

 Recently under study to use for road

2.3. PRODUCTION STEPS
Quarrying and finishing of stone

 Quarrying: is the process of removing stone from its natural bed.

 Shaping & Finishing: Taken to the factory & cut and finished to the desired
shapes.

QUARRYING
2.3. PRODUCTION STEPS
Quarrying(Extraction of Stones)

Methods of Quarrying

 Digging or excavating, wedging

 For soft rocks like limestone, marble

 Blasting rocks with short-tempered

 For hard dense rocks like granite, basalt

2.4. Requirements of Stone
To qualify as a construction material, stone should have the following qualities
o Appearance (Color, grain texture )
o Strength & Hardness
o Density (Porosity, Water,
o Durability(mainly abrasion)
absorption )
o Workability& ease of quarrying
o Fire resistance & Coefficient of
o Accessibility (transportation)
thermal expansion

Despite the abundance of rock, relatively few stones satisfy the requirements as
building stones.
Strength:
o Most types of stone have more than adequate
compressive strength.

o The shear strength of stone, however, is

usually about 1/10 of its compressive strength
 Hardness:
o Hardness is important when stone is used for flooring, paving, and stair treads.
Durability:
o Resistance to the weathering effects of

o Rain,

o Wind,

o Heat, and

o Frost action

o Necessary for exterior stonework

Workability
o A stone’s hardness and grain
texture must allow it to be
quarried, cut and shaped
Density
o A stone’s porosity affects its ability to
withstand frost action and staining
Density:
o Porosity of Stones
o 24-hours Water Absorption of Stones by Volume
Appearance:
o Appearance factors include

o Color,

o Aesthetics for decorative purpose

o Texture

o Fineness of grain affect workability &cost

o It is important for ornamental purpose

2.5.COMMONLY USED BUILDING STONES
Uses of Stone
 Hydraulic structures like dams and bridges.

 Retaining wall masonry to retain soil.

 Pavement material for road construction.

 ballast for permanent way in railways.

 Used to make concrete in the form of coarse aggregate.

Stone is used in construction in the
following forms:
Rubble
o Consists of rough fragments of broken stone that have at least one
good face for exposure in a wall.
Dimension stone
o Quarried and squared stone 2’ or more in length and width and of
specified thickness,

o Used commonly for wall panels, lintels and flooring.

Flagstone - refers to flat stone slabs used for flooring and
horizontal surfacing.
Crushed stone - is used as aggregate in concrete products.
 4.5.COMMONLY USED BUILDING STONES IN
ETHIOPIA
Basalt and Trachyte
 Very common in Ethiopia and mostly used for stone masonry work

 As bolder or crashed stone for road construction and

 Crashed aggregates for concrete making.

Marble Used as
 Owing to its o Polished floor finishing material or
 Beautiful colors,
o Window sill
 Durability,
o Cladding to external walls.

Granite
 Hard, strong, durable
 Used in external facing, stair trades & skirting
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 4.5.COMMONLY USED BUILDING STONES IN
ETHIOPIA
Granite and basalt
 Both basalt and granite are very hard stones; hence useful
materials for construction.

 Never be used in place where they will be subjected to great heat

 Owing to their tendency to explode due to the different rates of

expansion of their constituent minerals.

Limestone
 Used for:
 Used for external and internal walls and as polished floor finishing materials

 It is used as a concrete aggregate

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 It is used in the production of cement & lime
 4.5.COMMONLY USED BUILDING STONES IN
ETHIOPIA
Pumice and scoria
 Porous lightweight rocks pumice and scoria.

 Pumice and scoria are found in Ethiopia in large quantities

 Especially along the rift valley,

 Their use has been limited to the manufacture of partially or non

compacted light weight masonry blocks.
 Owing to its lightweight, pumice concrete is also used for forming slopes on

flat concrete roofs.

Pumice used in production of Portland Pozzolan Cement

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4.5.COMMONLY USED BUILDING STONES IN
ETHIOPIA
Sandstone
USES

 Sandstones are mainly used in paving, flooring, roofing etc.

 This is very strong that makes it perfect material for flooring.

 Resistant to Corrosion and weathering.

 The different shades and patterns of sandstone make garden pavement

gorgeous.

 Used for external and internal walls.

Sand stone & ignimbrite (widely used for decorative purpose )

i.e. Ambo sand stone

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 4.6. Tests on Building Stone
Absorption by weight, percent=(B-A)*100/A
 A = Weight of specimen after oven drying at 105+/-2 degree for 24 hours.

 B = Weight of the surface dry specimen after complete immersion in filtered or

distilled water 20+/-2 degree for 48 hours

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 4.6. Tests on Building Stone
Bulk specific gravity=A/(B-C)
A = Weight of specimen after oven drying at 105+2 degree for 24 hours.

B = Weight of the waterlogged and surface dried specimen in air (soaking is

done for 1 hour on the specimen that has been oven dried for 24 hours)

C= Weight of the soaked specimen in water.

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 o Strength of building stones increases with increasing specific gravity.
o Higher the specific gravity the greater the stability of a hydraulic
structure built of the stone

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