Uses of Stones

Stones

Uses of Stones

Stones are used for construction from the ancient time in engineering field. At present they are still use in concrete material and for other purposes also. Recently none of the construction work are done without use of stones. Stones are the primary material used for any type of building, road and bridge works. They are use in different forms in different members as per their convenience. Few of which are discussed below: 

1. Structure

When stones are used in column, beam, footing, retaining wall, lintel and arches etc this are termed as structural uses. They are of different size, shape and strength depending upon the importance of structural member.

2. Face-Work

When stones are used for facing purpose to give an attractive aesthetic view to the structure it is termed as face-work. for example sometimes we used stone facing work on brick masonry wall for attractive appearance, and sometimes we use stone masonry wall instead of brick work for attractive apearance.

3. Paving

When a flat stone used to make a outdoor walk surface on ground it is called stone paving. Stone paving is done in residential, commercial and industrial purposes. It is also used for footpath in roads and gardens. They are well dressed on it's top surface to give flat horizontal surface to walk on.

4. Basic Uses

Stones are disintegrated and converted into other basic materials used for engineering purposes like artificial stone, powdered material, aggregate, and sand etc.

5. Miscellaneous

Few important uses of stones which can not be ignored are as below:

- In heavy duty ramp

- Railway ballast

- Roofing material

- Street paving

- Bridge pier and abutments

- Retaining walls

- Dams etc.

Properties of Stones

Important properties of stones:

1. Hardness

Hardness is the surface property of stone. It can be defined in general by moh's scale and sometimes by dory's test.

Hardness	Stone	Description
1	Talc	Easily scratch by nail.
2	Gypsum	Easily scratch by nail.
3	Calcite	Easily scratch by knife, but hardly by nail.
4	Fluorite	Cut by knife with greater difficulty.
5	Apatite	Cut by knife with greater difficulty.
6	Orthoclase	Can be scratch by knife on edges only.
7	Quartz	Can not scratch by knife, diamond uses for scratch
8	Topaz	Hard enough, to cut or scratch required special tools
9	Sapphite
10	Diamond

 Note: As per dory's test hardness used for building works is 14-17 and for roads >17.

2. Cleavibility

Property of material to split along a plan. 

Stone	Description
Halite	Split in three direction at right angle. Cubical failure
Calcite	Split in three direction but not at right angle. Rhombohedral failure.
Gypsum	Split in one direction only
Muscovite	Split in one direction only
Feldspar	Split in two direction at right angle
Quartz	It does not split at any particular angle. Fracture in irregular manner.

3. Streak

Color of minerals in powered form is termed as streak.

Stone	Streak color of few minerals
Halite	White
Calcite	White
Gypsum	White
Muscovite	White
Talc	White to pale green
Quartz	Colorless
Apatite	White
Diamond	Colorless

4. Luster

Shine on the surface of a mineral is termed as luster. ex.: glassy, pearly and greasy etc.

"To Be Continued..."