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1. General
1.1 Rock classification
A rock is a hard natural assemblage of minerals, possibly associated with a glassy phase, bound together by significant cohesive forces.
The distinction between rock and soil is essentially based on the cohesion of the material. These cohesive forces are generally weaker in a soil that includes granular, non-cemented materials and cohesive clayey materials. A rock is conventionally distinguished from a soil by a uniaxial compressive strength threshold of 1 MPa. Rocks are also less deformable and less permeable than soils.
Rocks are classified into three main categories according to their origin, then sub-classified according to their composition, structure and texture...
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Soil mechanics and geotechnics
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The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference