INTRODUCCIÓN A LA INGENIERIA CIVIL

ROCK CLASSIFICATION
1.1. Detrital sedimentary rocks
They are formed from the sedimentation of fragments of other rocks after a
transport phase.
1. SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

Rocks caused by the transport

and deposition of materials as a
result of the action of wind,
water, ice or chemically
deposited from an aqueous fluid.
Sedimentary rocks are divided
in turn into detritic and non-
detritic. Thus the rocks with large fragments (larger than 2mm) and rounded are the
conglomerates, while if they are angular they are called gaps. When the
fragments are loose they are sediments that are called gravels.
1.2. Non detritic sedimentary rocks

They are formed from the precipitation of certain chemical compounds in aqueous
solutions or by accumulation of substances of organic origin. A very common type is
limestone, formed mostly by the precipitation of calcium carbonate or by the
accumulation of skeletal fragments (corals, gastropods, ostrocodes, etc)
 They are rocks generated by the cooling of a liquid mass of silicate composition that comes
from inside the Earth. This melt is at high temperatures.
2. Igneous rocks
When it cools and solidifies during its ascent towards the Earth's surface, in areas close to the
surface (terrestrial crust) it gives rise to plutonic rocks, while when it cools and solidifies on the
surface it gives rise to volcanic rocks.

They originate when magmas go outside the Earth's surface, leading to lava from volcanoes,
and cool on the earth's surface at low temperatures and pressures.
2.2. Volcanic rocks
The result is rocks made up of a mass of small crystals or un crystallized amorphous matter
(glass).
 Metamorphic rocks are generated from pre-existing rocks that, as a result of
suffering a significant increase in temperature and pressure by geological
processes (burial, intrusion of magmas, etc.), suffer readjustments.

3. Metamorphic Rocks
This readjustment causes changes in its minerals and chemical composition so
that the original rock (sedimentary, igneous or metamorphic) is transformed into
a new type that we call metamorphic rock.
 Concrete properties:
• Durability.- is another important
property of concrete. The concrete
must be able to withstand the
weather, the action of chemical
products and wear, to which it will
be subject to service.

• The change in volume.-

Expansion due to chemical
reactions between concrete
ingredients can cause buckling and
shrinkage when drying can cause
cracking. • The resistance.-Usually, it is
determined by the final strength of a
compression specimen; but,
sometimes due to the capacity of
flexion or tension.
• The weight per cubic foot.- • Tightness.-refers to the ability
of concrete with normal sand of the concrete to restrain or
and aggregate of about 145 lb. It retain water without visible leaks
may be a little smaller, if the
maximum size of the coarse
aggregate is less than 1½ in.

• Permeability.- refers to the

amount of water migration
through the concrete when the
water is under pressure, or the
ability of the concrete to resist
the penetration of water or
other substances

Impermeability.- It is an
important property of • Runoff.- Plastic is a
concrete that can be deformation that occurs
improved, often, reducing with constant load for a
the amount of water in the long time.
mixture.
Is a mixture of cement, coarse aggregate or
stone, fine aggregate or sand and water. The
cement is obtained from the pulverization of
the clinker, which is produced by calcination
until the insipient fusion of calcareous and
clay materials. The fine aggregate or sand
must be durable, strong, clean, hard and free
of impure materials such as dust, silt, slate,
alkalis and organic materials.

• Concrete is basically a mixture of

two components: aggregates and
paste. The paste, composed of Portland
cement and water, joins the aggregates
(sand and gravel or crushed stone) to
form a rock-like mass as the paste
hardens due to the chemical reaction
between the cement and the water.