Types of rocks:

1. Igneous Rock Formed by molten magma. Eg Granite and Basalt

2. Sedimentary Rock Redeposition of Disintegrated rocks (any rock). Eg Sandstone, limestone
and shales.
3. Rocks formed by the complete or incomplete recrystallization of igneous or sedimentary
rocks by high temperatures, high pressures, and/or high shearing stresses are metamorphic
rocks. The rocks so produced may display features varying from complete and distinct foliation.
Eg Gneiss, schist, slate and marble.

Feldspars are the most common rock minerals, which account for the abundance of clays
derived from the feldspars on the earths surface. Quartz comes next in order of frequency.
Most sands are composed of quartz.
Soil is formed by mechanical and chemical weathering of rock.
According to the grain size, soil is classified as:
1. Cobbles
2. Gravel Diameter range 4.75 to 76.2mm
3. Sand- Visible to eye(0.075mm) but less than 4.75mm
4. Silt- 0.002 to 0.075mm
5. Clay- Less than 0.002mm
GENERAL TYPES OF SOIL:
On the basis of origin of soil constituents, soils can be divided into two large groups:
1. Residual soils- Soil which remains at their place of formation as a result of weathering of
parent rock.
2. Transported soil-
Transported by Name of soil
Running Water Alluvial
Soil deposited in quiet lakes Lacustrine
Soil deposited in sea water Marine soil
Wind Aeolian
Deposited primarily through the action of Colluvial soil
gravitational force, as in land slides
Glacier Glacial soil
Many of these transported soils are loose and soft to a depth of several hundred feet.
Therefore, difficulties with foundations and other types of construction are generally
associated with transported soils.
Organic and inorganic soil Note A soil of organic origin can be organic or inorganic.
 In case of silt, sand and larger size particles the ratio of the area of surface of the particles to the
volume of the sample is relatively small. This ratio becomes increasingly large as size decreases
from 2 micron which is the upper limit for clay sized particles. The specific surface is defined as
the total area of the surface of grains expressed in square centimeters per gram or per cubic
centimeter of the dispersed phase.
 Composition of clay minerals Clay minerals are essentially hydrous aluminium silicates, with
magnesium or iron replacing wholly or in part for the aluminium, in some minerals. Many clay
materials may contain organic material and water-soluble salts.
Clays can be divided into three general groups on the basis of their crystalline arrangement and
it is observed that roughly similar engineering properties are connected with all the clay
minerals belonging to the same group.
 Water content is more than 500% in soil obtained from volcanic ash (e.g. Bentonite)
e = n/(1-n)