Compressive Strength of Common Rocks
The compressive strength of a rock is the maximum stress that it can withstand before it fails when subjected to a compressive load. Compressive strength is an important property of rocks in many engineering applications, such as the design of foundations, dams, and tunnels.
The following table provides a comprehensive list of compressive strength values for different rocks at standard room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F).
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| Aplite | 245 |
| Basalt | 196 - 490 |
| Breccia (volcanic) | 98 |
| Conglomerate | 118 - 127 |
| Diabase | 177 - 265 |
| Diorite | 94 - 255 |
| Dolerite | 150 - 185 |
| Dolomite | 49 - 171 |
| Flint | 216 |
| Gabbro | 45 - 461 |
| Gneiss | 79 - 323 |
| Granite | 36 - 372 |
| Granodiorite | 147 |
| Gypsum | 6.86 |
| Labradorite | 147 |
| Limestone (hard) | 39 - 137 |
| Limestone (soft) | 2 - 52 |
| Marble | 30 - 255 |
| Pumice | 2 |
| Quartzite | 25 - 315 |
| Rock salt | 27 |
| Sandstone (hard) | 39 - 247 |
| Sandstone (medium) | 16 - 34 |
| Sandstone (soft) | 7.8 - 16 |
| Schist | 59 - 307 |
| Slate | 59 - 304 |
| Syenite | 98 - 337 |
| tachylite | 35 - 88 |
These values are approximate and can vary depending on the specific geological characteristics of the rock.
Related Tables
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018.