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KAEA2134
Fundamentals of
Engineering Geology
Lecture 7: Description and
classification of rock mass

Description of Earth Materials in


Civil Engineering & Engineering Geology
Scale is important
Material where small samples of earth materials are discussed (hand
specimen)
Mass where large bodies of earth materials are considered.
In civil engineering, soil and rock masses are often defined based on ease
of excavation.
Soil or common excavation - earth materials that can be "removed by
commonly accepted excavation methods", i.e. methods not requiring the
use of explosives (blasting) for economic removal of the materials (USBR,
1974)
Rock mass - material that requires the use of blasting, breakers or splitters
for its removal, and is larger than a specific volume.
In Malaysia, rock in engineering projects is defined in the contract
documents, also usually in terms of excavation.
For instance, in one set of contract documents,rock is defined differently in
excavation works and boring (coring) works.

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Description of Rock Mass in


Engineering Geology
Rock mass description involves these elements:
Rock type / lithology (geological & mechanical / strength)
Geological structures especially discontinuities
Weathering
The strength and engineering performance of a rock mass largely
depend on the intensity, nature and persistence of discontinuities
within it
They can also be related to the strength of rock material, weathering
and water conditions

A rock mass can be made up of one rock type or more than one
rock type
The rock type(s) can be homogeneous & isotropic (eg granite) and
inhomogeneous & anisotropic (eg most sedimentary & metamorphic
rocks)

Discontinuities
No rock mass is truly continuous. They are broken up by joints,
faults, bedding planes, and other geological discontinuities
Definition (ISRM, 1978): discontinuity = any mechanical discontinuity
in a rock mass having zero or low tensile strength
Types of discontinuities (rock mass scale)
Bedding planes
Joints
Faults
Dykes, sills and veins
Foliation
Geological contacts, unconformities and intrusive contacts

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Description of discontinuities
ISRM (1978) suggested 10 parameters for the quantitative description of
discontinuities
1. Orientation attitude of discontinuity in space (dip direction/dip)
2. Spacing perpendicular distance between adjacent discontinuities
3. Persistence discontinuity trace length as observed in an exposure
4. Roughness inherent surface roughness and waviness relative to the
discontinuity plane
5. Wall Strength equivalent UCS of the adjacent rock walls of a
discontinuity
6. Aperture perpendicular distance between adjacent walls of a
discontinuity
7. Filling material that separates the adjacent rock walls of a discontinuity
8. Seepage water flow and free moisture visible in discontinuities
9. Number of sets
10. Block size

Description of discontinuities
Sampling or measurement of discontinuities
Subjective survey only those discontinuities which appear to be
important are described
Objective survey all discontinuities are described
Scanline survey all discontinuities intersecting a fixed survey line are
described
Areal survey all discontinuities in an area of rock exposure (usually a
circular area) or the whole exposure are described

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Subjective survey only those discontinuities which appear to be important are described

Scanline survey all discontinuities intersecting a fixed survey line are described

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Weathering Profile in Rock Mass


The description of weathering of rock is important in ground/site
investigations as most construction on or in a rock mass is undertaken
at shallow depths within the influence of weathering.
Weathering - the process of physical breakdown (disintegration) and
chemical decomposition of rock at or near the earths surface. Usually
both processes, together with biological processes are working
simultaneously at the surface.
Generally, rocks in Malaysia experienced long period of exposure,
resulting in deep weathering profiles.

Weathering Profile in Rock Mass


The description of the state of weathering is important because weathering
has profound effects on the physical and mechanical properties of the rock
material and rock mass.
The rate of the various weathering processes operate is a function of:
Environment dominated by climate and material, but also involved topography,
hydrology and biological activities.
Properties of the rock mass homogeneity, nature of the discontinuities
Properties of the rock material composition, fabric, texture and permeability.
All rocks weather ultimately to soil, and the type of soil produced is a function
of rock composition and climate.

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Weathering Profile in Rock Mass


Terms used to describe the weathering of rock material and weathering of
rock mass are not the same.

Descriptive scheme for weathering grades of rock material (ISRM, 1978 & Term Degree of
Dearman, 1991) change,
%
Term Description
Fresh 0
Fresh No visible sign of weathering of rock material

Discoloured Colour of original fresh rock material changed and is


evidence of weathering. Degree of change from original Slightly >0 10
colour should be indicated. If colour change confined to
particular mineral constituents, this should be mentioned.
Moderately 10 35
Decomposed Rock weathered to condition of a soil in which original
material fabric still intact, but some or all mineral grains
decomposed. Highly 35 75

Disintegrated Rock weathered to condition of a soil in which original


material fabric still intact. Rock friable, but mineral grains Extremely > 75
not decomposed.

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Weathering Profile in Rock Mass


Weathering in rock mass is described in terms of the distribution and relative
proportion of fresh rock, discoloured, decomposed and disintegrated rock.
Weathering grades of rock mass ISRM (1978)
Term Description Grade
Fresh No visible sign of rock material weathering. Discolouration on major I
discontinuity surfaces.
Slightly Discolouration indicates weathering of rock material and II
weathered discontinuity surfaces. All the rock material may be discoloured by
weathering and may be somewhat weaker than in its fresh
condition.
Moderately Less than half of the rock material is decomposed and/or III
weathered disintegrated to a soil. Fresh or discoloured rock is present either as
a continuous framework or as corestones.
Highly More than half of the rock material is decomposed and/or IV
weathered disintegrated to a soil. Fresh or discoloured rock is present either as
a discontinuous framework or as corestones.
Completely All rock material is decomposed and/or disintegrated to a soil. The V
weathered original mass structure is still largely intact.
Residual soil All rock material is converted to soil. The mass structure and VI
material fabric are destroyed. There is a large change in volume, but
the soil has not been significantly transported.

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Weathering Profile
Simplified / idealised profile
Grade Description Soil without
Relict fabric
VI Soil without relict fabric. Some organic
content, especially at surface. Soil with
Relict fabric
V Soil with some relict fabric.
Discoloured
IV Coreboulders in soil. (soil >50%) Rock

Fresh
III Discoloured rock partly changed to soil
Rock
(soil <50%)

II Rock with some discolouration,


especially along discontinuities

I Fresh rock

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Weathering Profile
Weathering profile is often complex due to inhomogeneity of the
rock mass (more than one rock type & presence of geological
structures).
In Malaysia, typical weathering profiles can be established over four
general bedrock types:
Granite and allied intrusives
Clastic sedimentary rocks
Metasedimentary rocks (except carbonates)
Carbonates (limestone & marble)

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Weathering
Profile over
Granite
Bedrock

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Weathering Profile over


Metasedimentary Bedrock
(graphitic quartz-mica schist)

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Weathering Profile over


Sedimentary Bedrock

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Weathering Profile over Carbonate Bedrock


Carbonate rock is unique because it is a physically Tower karst
(mogote hill)
strong rock which can be totally removed by solution
during weathering.
Rainwater, surface and groundwater dissolve away
the rock as they seep down discontinuities, creating
wide fissures, solution channels & caves.
Karst landscape characterised by subsurface drainage Cave
caves, sinkholes, thin soil & bare rock outcrops.

Sinkhole

Cave

Pinnacled
rockhead

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