Density of Common Rocks
The density of rocks varies depending on their composition and porosity. Igneous and metamorphic rocks are generally denser than sedimentary rocks because they contain more iron-rich minerals and have less porosity. Sedimentary rocks can have a wide range of densities, depending on the type of sediment and how well it is compacted.
The following table provides a comprehensive list of density values for different rocks at standard room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atmospheric (atm) pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)
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| Amphibolite | 2900 - 3000 |
| Andesite | 2400 - 2900 |
| Anorthosite | 2750 |
| Anthracite | 1400 - 1700 |
| Aplite | 2600 - 2700 |
| Asbestos | 2000 - 2800 |
| Basalt | 2800 - 3200 |
| Basanite | 2600 - 3200 |
| Bauxite | 2550 |
| Breccia (volcanic) | 2140 - 3000 |
| Chalk | 1200 - 2800 |
| Clay (soft shale) | 2200 - 2700 |
| Coal | 1400 - 1800 |
| Conglomerate | 2200 - 2700 |
| Diabase | 2800 - 3100 |
| Diatomite | 450 - 2300 |
| Diorite | 2770 - 3000 |
| Dolerite | 2700 - 3000 |
| Dolomite | 2760 - 2840 |
| Flint | 2500 - 2800 |
| Gabbro | 2700 - 3300 |
| Gneiss | 2500 - 2900 |
| Granite | 2640 - 2760 |
| Granodiorite | 2680 - 3000 |
| Gravel (dry) | 1400 - 1700 |
| Grenatite | 3500 - 4300 |
| Gypsum | 2200 - 2320 |
| Labradorite | 2800 |
| Lignite | 1100 - 1400 |
| Limestone (hard) | 2100 - 2760 |
| Limestone (soft) | 1200 - 2200 |
| Marble | 2600 - 2800 |
| Marl | 1800 - 2600 |
| Mica schist | 2400 - 3200 |
| Microdiorite | 2700 - 3000 |
| Microgabbro | 2700 - 3100 |
| Microgranite | 2500 - 2700 |
| Microsyenite | 2700 - 2900 |
| Nepheline syenite | 2600 - 2700 |
| Obsidian | 2300 - 2800 |
| Pechstein | 2200 - 2400 |
| Peat | 300 - 840 |
| Peridotite | 3100 - 3450 |
| Pumice | 390 - 1100 |
| Quartzite | 2640 - 2730 |
| Rhyolite | 2100 - 2690 |
| Rock salt | 2100 - 2200 |
| Sand (dry) | 1600 - 1700 |
| Sandstone (hard) | 2140 - 2650 |
| Sandstone (medium) | 2000 - 2140 |
| Sandstone (soft) | 1600 - 2000 |
| Schist | 1500 - 3200 |
| Shale | 2600 - 2900 |
| Slate | 2700 - 2950 |
| Syenite | 2600 - 2900 |
| Tachylite | 2300 - 2800 |
| Trachyte | 2200 - 2700 |
The density of a particular rock sample may vary depending on its specific composition and porosity.
Related Tables
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017. 3) A.M. Howatson, P.G. Lun, J.D. Todd, P.D. Engineering Tables and Data. United Kingdom: University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science, 2009.