Rock Grade Clasification

Grade Description
B Fresh and solid rock. The rock forming minerals and grains have no weathering and/or
alteration. Joints are tight and their surfaces have no visible sign of weathering
CH Slight weathered and relatively solid rock. The rock forming minerals and grains have a
little weathering and/or alteration in some part. Joints are tight in general but their
surfaces have sign of weathering (brown stained) than CH
CM Moderately weathered rock. The rock forming minerals and grains have more weathering
and/or alteration than CH. Joints are partly tight and their surface have more sign of
weathering (brown stained) than CH.
CL Highly weathered rock. The rock forming minerals and grains have weathering and/or
alteration in general. Joint surfaces have strong sign of weathering (brown stained, with
clay minerals) in general
D The rock mass is completely weathered and decomposed, and remarkably soft

Rock Mass Hardness Core Shape and Weathering and Combination of factor
Class Joint Interval Alteration
B I 1 a I1a
I 2, 3 a, b I2a, I2b, I3a, I3b
CH 1, 2 b, c II1b, II1c, II2b, II2c
II
3 a, b II3a, II3b
3 c II3c
II
CM 4 a, b, c II4a, II4b, II4c
III 2, 3 c III2c, III3c
II 5 b, c II5b, II5c
3 d III3d
CL
III 4 c, d III4c, III4d
5 c III5c
III 5 d III5d
D IV, V * * IV*, V*
* * e **e
Hardness
I Hard rock
II Medium hard rock
III Weak rock
IV Very weak rock
V Decomposed roc
Core shape and joint interval
 1 Columnar: Joint interval is around 30cm or more
2 Columnar: Joint interval is approximately 15 to 30cm
3 Mainly columnar: Joint interval is approximately 5 to 15cm
4 Short columnar and fragments: Joint interval is approximately less than 5cm
5 Fragments and sandy – clayey materials: heavily jointed
Weathering and alteration
a Fresh / no alteration
b Slightly weathered / weak alteration
c Moderately weathered / moderate alteration
d Highly weathered / high alteration
e Completely weathered / very high alteration