220239 - 44 Williams Road, KIN KIN - Site Classification Report

Rock Descriptions
Refer to AS 1726-1993 (Appendix A3.3) for the description and classification of rock material composition, including:
(a)    Rock type (Table A6, (a) and (b))
(b)    Grain size
(c)    Texture and fabric
(d)    Colour (describe as per soil).

The condition of a rock material refers to its weathering characteristics, strength characteristics and rock mass properties. Refer to AS 17261993
(Appendix A3 Tables A8, A9 and A10).
Weathering Condition (Degree of Weathering):
The degree of weathering is a continuum from fresh rock to soil. Boundaries between weathering grades may be abrupt or gradational.
                                                               Rock Material Weathering Classification
  Weathering Grade                   Symbol                                                             Definition
                                                     Soil-like material developed on extremely weathered rock; the mass structure and substance fabric are no
  Residual Soil                         RS
                                                     longer evident; there is a large change in volume but the material has not been significantly transported.
  Extremely         Weathered                        Rock is weathered to such an extent that it has 'soil' properties, i.e. it either disintegrates or can be remoulded
                                        XW
  Rock                                               in water, but substance fabric and rock structure still recognisable.
                                                     Strong discolouration is evident throughout the rock mass, often with significant change in the constituent
  Highly Weathered Rock                 HW
                                                     minerals. The intact rock strength is generally much weaker than that of the fresh rock.
  Moderately        Weathered                        Modest discolouration is evident throughout the rock fabric, often with some change in the constituent minerals.
                                        MW
  Rock                                               The intact rock strength is usually noticeably weaker than that of the fresh rock.
  Slightly Weathered Rock               SW           Rock is slightly discoloured but shows little or no change of strength from fresh rock.
  Fresh Rock                            FR           Rock shows no sign of decomposition or staining.
  Notes:
  1.   Minor variations within broader weathering grade zones will be noted on the engineering borehole logs.
  2.   Extremely weathered rock is described in terms of soil engineering properties.
  3.   Weathering may be pervasive throughout the rock mass, or may penetrate inwards from discontinuities to some extent.
  4.   The ‘Distinctly Weathered (DW)’ class as defined in AS 1726-1993 is divided to incorporate HW and MW in the above table. The symbol DW should
       not be used.

Strength Condition (Intact Rock Strength):
                                                                       Strength of Rock Material
         (Based on Point Load Strength Index, corrected to 50 mm diameter – Is(50). Field guide used if no tests available. Refer to AS 4133.4.1-2007.
                                                 Point Load
         Term               Symbol              Index (MPa)                                              Field Guide to Strength
                                                     Is(50)
  Extremely Low               EL              ≤0.03                    Easily remoulded by hand to a material with soil properties.
                                                                       Material crumbles under firm blows with sharp end of pick; can be peeled with knife; too hard
  Very Low                      VL            >0.03           ≤0.1
                                                                       to cut a triaxial sample by hand. Pieces up to 3 cm thick can be broken by finger pressure.
                                                                       Easily scored with a knife; indentations 1 mm to 3 mm show in the specimen with firm blows
                                                                       of the pick point; has dull sound under hammer. A piece of core 150 mm long by 50 mm
  Low                           L             >0.1            ≤0.3
                                                                       diameter may be broken by hand. Sharp edges of core may be friable and break during
                                                                       handling.
                                                                       Readily scored with a knife; a piece of core 150 mm long by 50 mm diameter can be broken
  Medium                        M             >0.3            ≤1.0
                                                                       by hand with difficulty.
                                                                       A piece of core 150 mm long by 50 mm diameter cannot be broken by hand but can be broken
  High                          H             >1              ≤3
                                                                       by a pick with a single firm blow; rock rings under hammer.
  Very High                   VH              >3              ≤10      Hand specimen breaks with pick after more than one blow; rock rings under hammer.
                                                                       Specimen requires many blows with geological pick to break through intact material; rock rings
  Extremely High              EH              >10
                                                                       under hammer.
  Notes:
  1.   These terms refer to the strength of the rock material and not to the strength of the rock mass which may be considerably weaker due to the effect of
       rock defects.
  2.   Anisotropy of rock material samples may affect the field assessment of strength.