1|Geology for Civil Engineers
CHAPTER 1 – GENERAL GEOLOGY 5. Erosion
Geology: Definition 6. Sedimentation
Science of the past and present 7. Climate Change
conditions of the Earth’s crust Examples of evolution and modifications
of surface features
From Modern Latin, Geologia is “the
study of the earth” Between 1952 –1954
From Geo that means Earth, and 29,028 feet (8,848 meters), plus
Logia that means to study or minus a fraction, was
established by the Survey of India
In German, Geologie. In Medieval
Latin, Geologia “study of earthly Between 2019 –2020
things”
China and Nepal jointly declared
In Merriam Webster, a science that that the height of Everest was
deals with the history of the earth 29,031.69 feet (8,848.86 meters)
and its life.
Examples of processes that result in
Is the science that deals with the natural disaster
origin, age, composition, internal
structure, surface features, and 1. Earthquake
history of the Earth 2. Landslides
Includes the processes inside the 3. Rockslide
earth, mineral wealth, and techniques
4. Tsunami
to preserve the earth.
5. Coastal Flooding
Deals with the evolution and
modification of various features like Importance of Geology in Civil
mountains, rivers, coastlines, etc. Engineering
An applied science to advance our Most civil engineering projects involve
understanding of the processes some excavation of soils and rocks
that can result in natural or involve loading the Earth by
disasters building on it.
Examples of Mineral Wealth Extraction In some cases, the excavated rocks
may be used as constructional
1. Open-Pit Copper Mine material, and in others, rocks may
2. Open-Pit Gold Mine form a major part of the finished
product such as a motorway cutting
Examples of Earth Preservation or the site for a reservoir.
1. Angat Watershed 1. Geology systematically studies the
2. Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges structure and properties of
construction materials and their
Challenges associated with Mining
occurrence.
1. Biodervisity Loss
The civil engineers need to know
2. Pollution the properties of rocks
accurately to enable them to
3. Habitat Destruction
consider different construction
4. Water Scarcity materials
2|Geology for Civil Engineers
It provides information about the
structural deposition of rock
types in the proposed area.
2. Selection of a site
8. Earthquake-prone Areas
Geology provides knowledge
If any geological features like
about the site used in the
faults, folds, etc. are found,
construction of buildings
they must be suitably treated to
increase the stability of the
structure
3. Geology helps to identify areas
9. The Knowledge of ETD
susceptible to failures
Erosion, transportation, and
Geology helps to identify areas
deposition (ETD) by surface
susceptible to failures due to
water help soil conservation, river
geological hazards such as
control, and coastal and harbor
earthquakes, landslides,
works.
weathering effects, etc.
[Link] Survey
4. The knowledge about the nature of the
rocks A survey of a site before
starting a project will reduce
necessary for tunneling,
overall cost.
constructing roads, and
determining the stability of cuts Civil Engineers and Geologists
and slopes
Works together for the site
5. The foundation problems selection and ground treatment for
important civil engineering projects.
directly related to the geology of
the area where they are to be The Study of Engineering Geology is
built important for the following reasons to
follow:
6. The knowledge of groundwater
1. It enables a geologist to understand
Hydrological maps provide
the nature of geological information
information about the
that is essential for the safe design
distribution of surface water
and construction of a civil engineering
channels and the groundwater
project.
depth.
2. Further, he is responsible for
7. Geological Maps
interpreting site-specific geological
data and for providing conceptual
3|Geology for Civil Engineers
models representing the morphology,
geological structures, and
4|Geology for Civil Engineers
5|Geology for Civil Engineers
Geotechnical Engineering
Soil Engineering or Ground
Engineering
In between geology and civil
engineering is geotechnics
A geotechnical engineer has an
important job role in analyzing soil,
rock, groundwater, and other earth
materials before major construction
projects.
Importance of Geotechnical
Engineering
it helps prevent complications
before they happen.
Branches of Geology
Chronology Tectonics
Stratigraphy Tectonics
Paleontology Volcanology
Micropaleontology Seismology
Paleomagnetism Neotectonics
Geomorphology Tectonophysics
Earth Structure and Composition
Paleoseismology Seismotectonics
Magnetostratigraphy
Geochronology
The Atmosphere
Natural Resources Sediments/Rocks The atmosphere of the earth is the
Petrology Sedimentology layer of gases (commonly called
Mineralogy Surficial Geology air) that surrounds the earth and
Gemology Glaciology creates an inhabitable environment,
Crystallography Geophysics maintains temperature, causes
Soil Science Bedrock Geology weather, and protects its inhabitants
Pedology Lithology from solar radiation.
Edaphology
The Layers of the Atmosphere
Agronomy/Agrology
Hydrogeology 1. Troposphere
Pomology
1.1. Extent
Topography Astrogeology 5 – 10 miles (8 – 15 kilometers)
above the surface
Orography Astrogeology
Topography Areology 1.2. Temperature
Hypsometry Selenography
Exogeology 62°F (17°C) around the lowest point
to -60°F (-51°C) near the top.
1.3. Composition
6|Geology for Civil Engineers
Atmospheric water vapor, dust,
weather, jet streams
2. Stratosphere
2.1. Extent
31 miles (50 kilometers) above the
surface
2.2. Temperature
-60°F (-51°C) near the troposphere
to 5°F (-15°C) near the top. 5.3. Composition
2.3. Composition Helium and Hydrogen
Ozone Layer
3. Mesosphere Layers of the Earth
3.1. Extent Lithosphere
85 miles (140 kilometers) above the Coolest and most rigid part of the
surface earth.
3.2. Temperature Composed of solid materials
5°F (-15°C) to -148°F (-100°C) as The most well-known feature
one ascends up the layer. associated with the Earth’s lithosphere
3.3. Composition is tectonic activity which describes
the interaction of huge slabs of
Meteoroids burn up here lithosphere called tectonic plates.
4. Thermosphere Crust
4.1. Extent Temperature Varies with depth
372 miles (600 kilometers) above
Oceanic Crust and continental
the surface
Crust
4.2. Temperature
Oceanic plates lie under oceans,
930°F (500°C) to 3,600°F (2000°C) they are denser compared to
near the upper thermosphere. continental crust.
4.3. Composition Continental crust is located under
Aurora Borealis (North Pole) and land masses and is less dense than
Aurora Australis (South Pole) oceanic plates
5. Exosphere Mantle
5.1. Extent Temperature varies from 1,000°C
(1,832°F) near its boundary with the
620 miles (1000 kilometers) above crust, to 3,700°C (6,692°F) near its
the surface
boundary with the core.
5.2. Temperature
Upper Mantle, Asthenosphere,
1800°F (980°C) and Lower Mantle
7|Geology for Civil Engineers
Geological Processes such as Harry Hess, Fred Vine, and
volcanism, seismic activity, and Drummond Matthews
formation of mountains(orogeny)
In the 1960s, scientific advances
originate in the mantle.
confirmed the theory of “plate
Core tectonics,” –the source of the energy
and mechanics of plate movement on
Temperature in the outer core is
the Earth’s crust.
between 4,000° and 5,700°C
Continental drift over millions of
Temperature in the inner core is
years was caused by plate tectonics.
about 5,500°C
Plate tectonics also explained how
The churning metal of the outer core
the movement of the plates creates
creates and sustains Earth’s Magnetic
volcanoes and earthquakes, and how
Field
the collision between continents
The inner core grows as bits of the gave rise to huge mountain ranges.
liquid outer core solidify or crystalize
At present, geologists can calculate
Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics when and where plate movements
Theory occurred over millions of years.
I. Continental Drift The continents rest on massive slabs of
rock called tectonic plates which are
In 1912, a German meteorologist, always moving and interacting in a
Alfred Wegener, suggested that process called plate tectonics.
there was a single supercontinent
200-300 million years ago in the The continents are still moving
Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. today.
The supercontinent, he called it Types of tectonic boundaries:
Pangea, which means “all Earth”
1. Divergent Boundary
Evidence of Continental Drift
When two tectonic plates
Theory:
move away from each other.
The continents fit together
Along these boundaries,
Identical rocks of the same type earthquakes are common, and
and age are found on both sides of magma rises.
the Atlantic Ocean.
2. Convergent Boundary
Mountain ranges with the same
When two plates come
rock types, structures, and ages.
together
Ancient fossils of the same species
The impact causes mountain
of extinct plants and animals.
ranges to form.
Grooves and rock deposits.
Where an oceanic plate meets a
Coral reefs and coal-forming continental plate.
swamps
The denser of the two will be
II. Plate Tectonics forces underneath
3. Transform Plate Boundary
8|Geology for Civil Engineers
Two sliding plates on each C. Flux Melting
other
Occurs when rising magma brings
There is no volcanic activity heat up with it and melts overlying
or surrounding rocks.
Magma
Magma Escape Routes
Magma is a molten and semi-molten
rock mixture found under the surface of Magma leaves the confines of the upper
Earth. mantle and crust in two major ways:
This mixture is usually made up of four 1. Intrusion (pluton)
parts:
Dikes and xenoliths
1. A hot liquid base, called melt;
A magmatic dike is simply a large
2. Minerals crystalized by the melt; slab of magmatic material that has
intruded into another rock body.
3. Solid rocks incorporated into the melt
from the surrounding confines; and Xenoliths is a piece of rock
trapped in another type of rock.
4. Dissolved gases (water vapor, carbon
dioxide, sulfur gases) 2. Extrusion
Magma is extremely hot—between Lava and volcanic rocks
700°and 1,300°Celsius (1,292°and
Lava eruptions can be fire fountains
2,372°Fahrenheit).
of liquid rock, or they can also
Mantle Convection extrude into the Earth’s
atmosphere as a part of a violent
Refers to the process of rising
volcanic explosion.
hot mantle material and sinking
colder material. Magma Chamber
Hotspot The location beneath the vent of a
volcano where molten rock (magma) is
In geology, it is an area of the
stored before eruption.
Earth’s Mantle from which hot
plumes rise upwards, forming Also known as a magma storage zone
volcanoes on the overlying crust. or magma reservoir
How Magma Forms The cracks, called fissures or vents,
are tell-tale signs of a volcano.
A. Decomposition Melting
In violent eruptions, the volume of
The upward movement of Earth’s
magma shrinks so much that the entire
mostly solid mantle
magma chamber collapses and forms a
Reduction in overlying pressure caldera
that enables the mantle to melt
Apolaki Caldera
and form magma.
a volcanic caldera with a diameter of
B. Transfer of Heat
150 kilometers (93 mi), making it
Occurs where volatiles enter the world's largest caldera.
the hot mantle, this happens at
subduction zones.
9|Geology for Civil Engineers
It is located within the Benham Rise Granite and Rhyolite
(Philippine Rise) and was discovered
CHAPTER 2 – MINERALOGY
in 2019 by Jenny Ann Barretto.
Mineralogy
Types of Magma
The study of the Chemistry, crystal
1) Mafic
structure, and physical properties
Mafic magma has relatively low of the mineral constituents of rocks.
silica content, roughly 50%,
Mineral
and higher contents in iron and
magnesium. Naturally occurring inorganic
element or compound
Low viscosity means that mafic
magma is the most fluid of Having an orderly internal structure
magma types and characteristic chemical
composition.
Mafic magma also has high mean
temperatures, between 1000° Make up the rocks of the earth’s
and 2000° Celsius (1832° and lithosphere and mantle
3632 ° Fahrenheit).
Two types of compounds:
Basalt Rock, Gabbro
1. Organic Compounds
Derived from living
organisms and have carbon-
hydrogen covalent bonds
2) Intermediate
2. Inorganic Compounds
Intermediate magma has higher
silica content (roughly 60%) Derived from nonliving
than mafic magma. components
This results in a higher gas content Generally, have ionic bonds,
and viscosity. lack carbon-hydrogen bonds
Its mean temperature ranges from International Mineralogical Association
800° to 1000° Celsius (1472° to
1832° Fahrenheit). Recognizes approximately 5,500
different kinds of minerals.
Andesite (Andes Mountains in
South America) and Diorite Importance of Mineralogy in Civil
Engineering
3) Felsic
Engineers need to identify the
Felsic magma has the highest characteristics of rocks.
silica content of all magma
types, between 65-70%. It enables them to classify different
rocks for different purposes, i.e.,
Felsic magma also has the highest concrete aggregate, floorings,
gas content and viscosity. foundation rock, roofing minerals, road
metal, or decorative materials.
Lowest mean temperatures,
between 650° and 800° Celsius Helps engineers assess rocks’
(1202° and 1472° Fahrenheit). properties, such as physical strength,
appearance, and durability.
10 | G e o l o g y f o r C i v i l E n g i n e e r s
Processes in the Formation of Minerals openings in the earth’s surface
that emit steam and volcanic
I. Solidification (crystallization)
gases, such as sulfur dioxide and
Hot molten magma solidifies through carbon dioxide.
cooling.
They can occur as holes, cracks, or
Stages in Solidification: fissures near active volcanoes or in
areas where magma has risen into
1. Nucleation the earth’s crust without erupting.
- Initial Stage that involves the A fumarole can vent for centuries
formation of a small cluster of or quickly go extinct, depending
atoms or molecules, known as on the longevity of its heat source.
a nucleus.
2. Very rapid drops in temperature and
2. Crystal Growth pressure cause minerals to form
- As the magma cools, more atoms around hydrothermal and volcanic
and molecules join the crystal openings.
structure. IV. Recrystallization
3. Solidification formation of new minerals directly
- The minerals have fully formed from the elements within existing
minerals.
II. Precipitation from aqueous
solution Solid-state recrystallization is
a metamorphic process that
1. Fresh water contains a small amount occurs under high temperatures
of dissolved elements. Salt water and pressures where atoms of
contains many more dissolved minerals are reorganized by
elements. Water can only hold a diffusion and/or dislocation glide.
certain amount of dissolved
substances. Diffusion is the transport process
by which atoms, ions, or
2. When the water evaporates, it leaves molecules dissolved in a medium,
behind a solid layer of minerals. such as minerals, glasses, melts,
gases, or fluids, migrate.
3. The particles come together to form
minerals.
4. These solids sink to the bottom.
III. Precipitation from gaseous Classification of Minerals
emanations
1. Rock-Forming Minerals
- Mineral-rich gases escape from
deep sub-surface chambers Commonly found in the Earth’s
Crust
1. When super-heated, mineral-rich gases
escape from deep subsurface Responsible for the formation of
chambers, they are released at the Various Types of rocks
surface through fumaroles, vents, and Important for civil engineers
volcanoes.
1.1. Fumaroles
11 | G e o l o g y f o r C i v i l E n g i n e e r s
Help scientists understand the - Allows it to break smoothly
processes that shape the along specific internal planes
Earth’s crust
v. Fracture
Economic Importance of Rock-Forming
- Property of a mineral breaking
Minerals
in a random pattern
Rock-forming minerals have significant
- No smooth planar surfaces
economic importance due to their role
in the formation of valuable mineral - Can be conchoidal (smooth),
resources. fibrous and splintery (similar to
wood), hackly (sharp edges),
1. Construction Materials
uneven (rough).
2. Industrial Materials
vi. Crystal Habit
3. Energy Resources
- The tendency for specimens of
4. Water Purification a mineral to repeatedly grow
into characteristic shapes.
5. Gemstones
- Can be individual crystals or
6. Metal Ores
group of distinct crystals
7. Fertilizers
vii. Specific Gravity
Physical Properties of Minerals
- Ratio of density of mineral to
The Physical properties of minerals are the density of water.
used by Mineralogists to help
viii. Transparency
determine the identity of a specimen.
- Measure how an object can be
i. Color
seen through a crystal.
- Seen on its surface by the
ix. Reaction with Acid
naked eye.
- Uses acid test
- Allochromatic (some minerals
that take on a variety of colors. x. Tenacity
ii. Luster - Resistance of a mineral to
breaking, crushing, or
- General appearance of mineral
bending.
surface to reflected light.
xi. Magnetism
- Can be metallic (shiny) or non-
metallic (glassy, resinous, - Characteristic that allows a
pearl-like, oily, fibrous, brilliant) mineral to attract or repel
other magnetic material.
- Ferromagnetism describes
iii. Hardness
a strong attraction to magnetic
- Measure of minerals’ resistance fields.
to scratching
- Paramagnetism is weak in
- Mohs Hardness scale attraction to magnetic fields
iv. Cleavage
12 | G e o l o g y f o r C i v i l E n g i n e e r s
- Diamagnetism, only one 1. Igneous
mineral, bismuth, is repelled from
Formed when molten
magnetic fields.
material from within the
2. Ore-forming minerals Earth cools down and
solidifies
extracted from the Earth’s
crust Interlocking Crystalline
Structures
processed to obtain the
valuable elements or minerals Origin of Igneous Rocks
for various industrial,
1.1. Melting
manufacturing, and commercial
purposes. 1.2. Crystallization
Important for Metallurgical and Classification of Igneous Rocks: Based
mining engineers on the Mode of occurrence
Economic Importance of Rock-Forming i. Intrusive Igneous Rocks
Minerals
Formed by the crystallization of
1. Metal and Mineral Production the magma within the Earth’s
Crust
2. Job Creation and Economic Growth
Processes that expose intrusive
3. Supply Chain for Manufacturing and
rocks on the Earth’s Surface:
Production
1. Denudation
4. Infrastructure Development
Erosion of the overlaying strata
5. Technological Innovation
and therefore uplifting of the
CHAPTER 3 – PETROLOGY
2. Tectonic Activity
Petrology
a. Plutonic
Branch of geology that deals with the
7-10 km
formation of rocks, their
classification, and occurrence. Very slow rate of cooling
Rock Coarse-grained
Naturally occurring solid Granite, Syenite, Gabbro
aggregates or masses of minerals
b. Hypabyssal
Mineral
Up to 2 km
Naturally occurring inorganic
elements or compounds in crystal Slow rate of cooling
form Medium Grained
Mineraloid Microgranite
Does not exhibit crystallinity Porphyry
Does not have ordered atomic Dolerite
structure
Classifications of Rocks
13 | G e o l o g y f o r C i v i l E n g i n e e r s
ii. Extrusive Igneous Rocks Generally,
less than ½
Formed by the crystallization of the mm
magma as it exits as lava and cools Glassy Zero Grain
above (or very near) the Earth’s Very Fast
(vitreous) Size
surface.
a. Volcanic
Located on the Earth’s Classification of Igneous Rocks: Based
surface on Color Index
Very fast rate of cooling Color index, M, is a number that
represents the percent, by volume,
Fine-grained
of dark-colored minerals in a rock.
Obsidian, pumice, rhyolite
Rock Division Color Index, M
Classification of Igneous Rocks: Based Leucocratic 0 – 15
on Chemical Composition Mesocratic 16 – 45
Melanocratic 46 – 85
Silica Major Hypermelanic > 85
Intrusive Conten Mineral Color
t Content
Quartz
Felsic
> 66% Alkali Light
(Acidic)
Feldspar
Biotite
Alkali Light to
Intermedia 55 – 66
Feldspar Gray
te %
Hornblen
de
Magnesiu
m
Mafic 45 – 55 Iron
Black
(Basic) % Plagioclas
e
Feldspar
Pyroxene
Olivine Black
Ultrabasic < 45 % Magnesiu to Olive
m Green
Iron
Classification of Igneous Rocks: Based on
Texture
Rate of
Texture Crystal Size
Cooling
Large
Crystals
Phanerites Slow Cooling
Generally, ½
mm to 5 mm
Asphanites Rapid Cooling Small
Crystals
14 | G e o l o g y f o r C i v i l E n g i n e e r s
Classification of Sedimentary Rocks:
Based on Mode of Formation
2. Sedimentary
i. Clastic Rocks (Detrital Rocks)
Mechanically formed rocks or
terrigenous rocks
Terrigenous
Particles of rock derived from
pre-existing rock through
weathering and erosion.
Stage 1: Weathering and Erosion
Stage 2: Transportation of
Sediments
Transportation by Water
Transportation by Wind
Transportation by Ice/Glacier
Transportation by Gravity
Transportation by Biological
Agents
Stage 3: Deposition of Sediments
Alluvial Deposits
Floodplain (area next to river)
Alluvial Fan (triangle deposit of
gravel)
Deltaic Deposits
Delta (low-lying plain that
sometimes forms at the
amount of a river)
Formed from deposits of pre- Coastal Deposits
existing rocks or pieces of once-
living organisms. Beaches, Lagoons, Barrier
Islands
Origin of Sedimentary Rocks
Marine Deposits
1. Weathering & Erosion
The ocean floor
2. Compacting & Cementing
Glacial Deposits
Moraine (material left
behind by a moving glacier)
15 | G e o l o g y f o r C i v i l E n g i n e e r s
Glacial Till (collective term compressed and
for all the material carried close together.
by the body of ice) Cementation Mineral-rich
fluids may flow
Glacial Outwash (particles through the rock
carried by the water arising and bind it
from the melting of glacier together.
ice) Recrystallization Minerals may
dissolve and re-
Aeolian Deposits precipitate
Sand dunes, loess Replacement Original
sediments are
Lacustrine Deposits replaced by new
minerals.
Stage 4: Lithification (Diagenesis) Dissolution Some minerals
Factors Affecting the may dissolve,
leaving behind
Diagenesis of
pores.
Sedimentary Rocks:
Organic Processes Bacterial Activity
Factor Effect can produce
Temperature Higher temperature methane, which
causes minerals to can cause it to
recrystallize precipitate.
Pressure Increased pressure
causes compaction. Classification of Sedimentary Rocks:
Fluids Can alter the Based on Mode of Formation
mineralogy of
sedimentary rocks ii. Non-Clastic Rocks
through dissolution
and precipitation 1. Biologically or organically
Time The longer it is formed rocks
buried, the more
time for diagenesis 2. Chemically formed rocks
to occur Organic Formed from the
Composition of Some minerals are Sedimentary accumulation of any
the Sediment more susceptible to Rocks animal or plant
alteration than debris
others. Chemical Formed when the
Climate Arid Climates can Sedimentary water components
lead to Rocks evaporate, leaving
the formation of dissolved minerals
evaporites, while behind
humid climates can
lead to the
formation of Examples of Sedimentary Rocks and
kaolinite. Their Uses
Conglomera Used for ornamental works in
Types of Diagenesis of te buildings, monuments, and as
Sedimentary Rocks: tiles.
Breccia Basal Braccia
Type Description Fault Braccia
Compaction Grains become Agglomeratic Breccia
16 | G e o l o g y f o r C i v i l E n g i n e e r s
Sandstone Ideal rocks for groundwater 1. Confining Pressure
and oil reservoirs
Shale Used to manufacture bricks Has equal pressure on all sides
and tiles 2. Direct Pressure
Mudstone Fine-grained clastic rocks
Siltstone Made up of quartz, clays, and Is an unequal balance of
chlorite forces
Limestone Primary source of lime for
cements Classification of Metamorphism
Dolostone Dolomite 1. Burial Metamorphism
Coals All-purpose fuels
Iron Ores Used to make steel Sediments are buried deeply
Gypsum Fertilizers enough that the heat and pressure
Rock Salt Food Supplement cause minerals to begin to
Chert Arrowheads, Spearpoint, recrystallize and new minerals to
knives, and other tools grow.
2. Contact Metamorphism
3. Metamorphic
Occurs adjacent to intrusive
Origin of Metamorphic Rocks igneous rocks
Metamorphism and the resultant rock 3. Regional Metamorphism
is called metamorphic rock or
metamorphosed rock Refers to large-scale
metamorphism
Agents in the process of
Metamorphism Occurs where plates collide
Agent Effects Types 4. Hydrothermal (Seafloor)
Temperatu Activate Metamorphism
re chemical
Alters rocks at high temperatures
(Heat) Reactions that
and moderate pressures by
alter the
chemical hydrothermal fluids
composition of 5. Plutonic Metamorphism
the parent rock.
Pressure Pressure Confinin At High static pressure there will be
compacts the g a reduction in volume, and there is
rock Pressure a change in mineral composition.
Directed 6. Retrograde Metamorphism
Pressure
Occurs when high-temperature
Fluids Introduce new
(Chemicals chemical metamorphic mineral assemblages
) components or change to low-temperature ones.
remove existing Effects of Metamorphism on Different
ones
Protoliths
Time Allows gradual
and profound Protolit Very Low Mediu High
changes h low Grade m Grade
Grade 300 - Grade Above
150 - 450° 450 - 500°
Types of pressure: 300° Celsiu 550° Celsiu
17 | G e o l o g y f o r C i v i l E n g i n e e r s
Celsiu s Celsiu s Good choice for high-traffic areas
s s that are susceptible to spills
Mudrock Slate Phyllit Schist Gneiss
e 2. Roofing Material
Granite Granit Slate tiles can last for over a
e
hundred years, making them a
Gneiss
wise investment for any home.
Basalt Chlorite Schist Amphibolite
(Amphibole Slate tiles are also fire-resistant
Gneiss)
Sandsto No Little Quartzite 3. Making Countertops
ne Chang Chang
They are heat resistant
e e
Limeston Little Marble 4. Making Tabletops
e Chang
e Slate is a natural stone that is
Textures of Metamorphic Rocks: Based easy to clean and maintain
on Foliation
1. Foliated (Layered or Banded)
Characterized by the parallel
Uses for Quartzite
alignment of mineral grains
1. Making countertops
Slaty Foliation, Phyllitic Foliation,
Schistose Foliation, Gneissic 2. Flooring
Foliation
3. Tiles
2. Non-Foliated (Non-Layered)
4. Roofings
Characterized by the absence of
parallel alignment of mineral 5. Construction Stone
grains. The stone is also easy to cut and
Granoblastic, Hornfelsic shape, making it ideal for a
variety of construction projects.
Examples of Metamorphic Rocks
Formation 6. Railroad Ballast
1. Slate Rock Formation The quartzite material helps to
keep the track in place and
2. Hornfels Rock Formation provides a good foundation for the
train wheels to roll on.
3. Schist Rock Formation
7. Aquariums
4. Marble Rock Formation
While quartzite can be used in
Examples of Metamorphic Rocks and
aquariums, it is not a common
Their Uses
material to use.
Uses of Slate Tiles
Uses for Marble
1. Flooring Material
1. Countertop or Tabletop
Due to their durability and water
resistance
18 | G e o l o g y f o r C i v i l E n g i n e e r s
Marble is easy to clean, which is
another plus for areas that see a
lot of activity.
2. Flooring
Not only does it look great, but it
is also very easy to care for.
Simply sweep or vacuum it
regularly and
3. Sculpture
Marble is a very durable material,
so statues made from it can last
for a long time.
4. Pools and Showers
One use for marble in pools and
showers is for its aesthetic value.
It can add an extra level of beauty
and luxury to a space.