NAYPYITAW STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
LABORATORY RECORD
(THIRD SEMESTER)
2025- 2026 ACADEMIC YEAR
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING- I
Laboratory Record
Engineering Geology for Civil Engineers I
Name - Mg Zwe Htet Maung
Roll No - IIC- 19
Specialization - ---------------------------------------
Class - Second year civil
No Date Practical Mark Sign Remark
Title
1 Rock Forming
Mineral
2 Igneous Rocks
3 Metamorphic Rocks
4 Sedimentary Rocks
5 Structural Block
Diagrams
Lab. No.1 : Study of Rock Forming Minerals
Objective : To classify the minerals, and to know the kind and physical properties of
rock forming minerals
Procedures : The sketch of given minerals is figured out in the identification form for
the
following rock forming minerals
(i) Q uartz
(ii) Gypsum
(iii) Hornblende
(iv) Calcite
(v) Biotite
[Describe your findings in the given identification form]
Specific Name - Quartz
Chemical Composition - Silicon Dioxide (Si)
Color - Typically clear or white, though impurities can result in a wide
spectrum of colors
Cleavage - None; it typically breaks with a curved, shell- like conchoidal
fracture
Hardness - 7 on the Mohs scale, which is considered very hard
Luster - Glassy or vitreous
Crystal System - Hexagonal; commonly found as hexagonal prisms
Uses - Manufacturing: A primary ingredient in glass making
Electronics - Crucial for producing timing devices like watches and
oscillators due to its piezoelectric properties
Construction - Used in its raw form as sand and as a component in concrete
Specific Name - Gypsum
Chemical Composition - Hydrated Calcium Sulfate (CaS)
Color - Colorless, white, grey, yellowish
Cleavage - Perfect in one direction
Hardness - 2 (on Mohs scale)
Luster - Vitreous, pearly, or silky
Crystal System - Monoclinic
Uses - Cement, plaster of Paris, fertilizer
Electronics - Limited use (Precision instruments)
Construction - Cement retarder, Wallboards, Plaster, decorative moulding
Specific Name - Hornblende
Chemical Composition - Complex calcium sodium magnesium iron aluminum silicate
(General formula: (Ca,Na)₂–₃(Mg,Fe,Al)₅(Al,Si)₈O₂₂(OH)₂)
Color - Dark green, black, dark brown
Cleavage - Good in two directions (at 56° and 124°)
Hardness - 5- 6 (on Mohs scale)
Luster - Vitreous to dull
Crystal System - Monoclinic
Uses - Building stone, road ballast
Electronics - Not used in electronics
Construction - Building stones, road, concrete, aggregate
Specific Name - Calcite
Chemical Composition - Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃)
Color - Colorless, white, orange, blue, green (varies due to
impurities)
Cleavage - Perfect rhombohedral in 3 directions
Hardness - 3 (on Mohs scale)
Luster - Vitreous to pearly
Crystal System - Hexagonal (Trigonal)
Uses - Optical instruments, acid neutralizer
Electronics - Not commonly used in electronics but used in Polarizing prisms
Construction - Cement, Lime manufacture, Marble
Specific Name - Biotite
Chemical Composition - Potassium iron magnesium aluminum silicate
(General formula: K(Mg,Fe)₃AlSi₃O₁₀(OH)₂)
Color - Black, dark brown, dark green
Cleavage - Perfect basal cleavage (Sheet- like)
Hardness - 2.5–3 (on Mohs scale)
Luster - Vitreous to pearly
Crystal System - Monoclinic
Uses - Soil conditioner, filler
Electronics - Not commonly used in electronics but used in insulator and
capacitors
Construction - roofing, building stone, road and concrete
Lab. No.2 : Study of Igneous rock
Objective : To determine the rock types and their properties; to know their
distribution
in Myanmar; to identify the construction materials for the projects
Procedures : The sketch of given minerals is figured out in the identification form for
the
following igneous rocks.
(i) Granite
(ii) Gabbro
(iii) Andesite
(iv) Basalt
(v) Dacite
[Describe your findings in the given identification form]
Rock name - Granite
Mineral Composition - Primarily Quartz, K- Feldspar, and Plagioclase, with minor
amounts of Muscovite or Biotite mica
Texture - Phaneritic (coarse- grained), meaning the crystals are large
enough to see with the naked eye because it cooled slowly
underground
Group - Felsic / Plutonic (Intrusive)
Locality - Very common in the Mogok Metamorphic Belt, the Tanintharyi
region, and the Kengtung area in Shan State
Uses - Used extensively for high- end construction (countertops,
flooring) and monuments
Association - associated with Tin (Sn) and Tungsten (W) mineralization,
particularly in the southern "Tin Belt" of Myanmar
Rock name - Gabbro
Mineral Composition - Mainly Pyroxene and Calcium- rich Plagioclase; may contain
Olivine. It is low in Silica.
Texture - Phaneritic (coarse- grained), crystalline,very hard
Group - Mafic / Plutonic (Intrusive)
Locality - Found within the Ophiolite belts (ancient oceanic crust) near
Myitkyina and along the Chin Hills/Arkan Yoma range
Uses - Sold as "Black Granite" for decorative stone
Association - associated with Chromium and Nickel deposits
Rock name - Andesite
Mineral Composition - Plagioclase feldspar mixed with Hornblende or Pyroxene. It has
an intermediate silica content
Texture - Aphanitic (fine- grained) to Porphyritic (large crystals set in a
fine groundmass)
Group - Igneous rock, Intermediate / Volcanic (Extrusive)
Locality - Prominent in the Central Volcanic Arc, specifically Mount Popa
and the Wuntho Massif
Uses - Used as heavy- duty aggregate for railway ballast and road
construction
Association - associated with Epithermal Gold and Copper deposits (like those
in Monywa)
Rock name - Basalt
Mineral Composition - Mostly Pyroxene and Plagioclase, often with Olivine. Rich in
iron and magnesium
Texture - Aphanitic (fine- grained), often showing "vesicular" (holed)
textures if gas was trapped
Group - Igneous rock, Mafic / Volcanic (Extrusive)
Locality - Found in the Salingyi area, the Shwebo- Monywa volcanic field,
and parts of the northern Anyathian plateau
Uses - Used as crushed stone for concrete and road foundations
Association - associated with fertile volcanic soils used for agriculture
Rock name - Dacite
Mineral Composition - Plagioclase feldspar, Quartz, and often Biotite or Hornblende. It
is the extrusive equivalent of Granodiorite
Texture - Aphanitic to Porphyritic
Group - Igneous – Felsic- Intermediate / Volcanic (Extrusive)
Locality - Found in the Lower Chindwin volcanic area and as part of the
late- stage eruptions of Mount Popa
Uses - used as construction aggregate
Association - associated with explosive volcanic activity and can be found
near high- sulfidation copper systems
Lab. No.3 : Study of Metamorphic rock
Objective : To determine the rock types and their properties; to know their
distribution in
Myanmar; to identify the construction materials for the projects
Procedures : The sketch of given minerals is figured out in the identification form for
the
following metamorphic rocks.
(i) Amphibolite
(ii) Slate
(iii) Schist
(iv) Gneiss
(v) Marble
[Describe your findings in the given identification form]
Rock name - Amphibolite
Parent Rock - Basalt, Gabbro, or other mafic igneous rocks
Chief Material - Hornblende (Amphibole) and Plagioclase feldspar
Locality - Found extensively in the Mogok Metamorphic Belt and within the Indo-
Myanmar Ranges (near the ophiolite zones)
Uses - Mainly used as crushed stone for heavy- duty construction and
high- quality railway ballast due to its extreme toughness
Rock name - Slate
Parent Rock - Shale or Mudstone (Sedimentary rocks)
Chief Material - Clay minerals, Chlorite, and Quartz (microscopic grains)
Locality - Common in the Mergui Group (Tanintharyi Region) and the Chaung
Magyi Group in the Northern Shan State
Uses - used for roofing tiles and school writing slates. Today, it is popular for
decorative flooring and landscaping stones in Myanmar.
Rock name - Schist
Parent Rock - Shale, Mudstone, or Felsic Igneous rocks
Chief Material - Mica (Muscovite/Biotite), Chlorite, and Quartz. It is identified by its
"schistosity" (shiny, wavy layers)
Locality - Dominant in the Katha- Tagaung area and along the western margins
of the Shan Plateau
Uses - Primarily used as a decorative garden stone or as low- grade building
aggregate; it is generally too flaky for heavy structural use
Rock name - Gnesis
Parent Rock - Granite (creating Orthogneiss) or Sedimentary rocks (creating
Paragneiss)
Chief Material - Quartz, Feldspar, and dark bands of Biotite or Hornblende. It features
distinct light and dark "banding."
Locality - The Mogok Gneiss is world- famous, stretching from Mogok through
Pyin Oo Lwin and down toward Mandalay
Uses - Extremely durable; used for dimension stone, bridge piers, and
high- quality crushed aggregate for road surfacing
Rock name - Marble
Parent Rock - Limestone or Dolomite
Chief Material - Calcite (CaCO_3) or Dolomite (CaMg(CO_3)_2)
Locality - Most famous in Sagyin Hill (near Mandalay) and the Mogok region.
The "Kyaukse Marble" is also well- known
Uses - Used for sculpture (especially Buddha images in Myanmar),
architectural facades, and as a source of calcium for industrial
glass and paper making
Lab. No.4 : Study of Sedimentary rock
Objective : To determine the rock types and their properties; to know their
distribution
in Myanmar; to identify the construction materials for the projects
Procedures : The sketch of given minerals is figured out in the identification form for
the
following sedimentary rocks.
(i) Shale
(ii) Dolomite
(iii) Limestone
(iv) Sandstone
(v) Conglomerate
[Describe your findings in the given identification form]
Rock name - Shale
Chemical Composition - Primarily Aluminum silicates (clay minerals), Quartz, and
organic matter
Color - Usually grey, black (rich in carbon), or reddish- brown (rich in
iron)
Texture - Fissile (splits into thin layers) and very fine- grained (cannot
see grains with the naked eye)
Locality - Chindwin Basin, Ayeyarwady Basin, and the Pegu Range
Uses - A primary source for cement manufacturing and brick making.
Historically, it is the "source rock" for Myanmar's oil
and natural gas
Group - Clastic Sedimentary
Rock name - Dolomite
Chemical Composition - Calcium magnesium carbonate
CaMg(CO₃)₂ (dolomite mineral)
Color - White, grey, or light pinkish- tan
Texture - Crystalline to Granular; often looks like limestone but is
slightly harder and reacts more slowly to acid
Locality - Extensive in the Shan Plateau (specifically the Shan Dolomite
Group)
Uses - Used as a soil conditioner (to reduce acidity), a flux in glass
and steel production, and as a durable construction aggregate
Group - Chemical/Biochemical Sedimentary
Rock name - Limestone
Chemical Composition - calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)
Color - White, grey, cream, or dark grey
Texture - Can be Bioclastic (containing fossils), Oolitic, or Fine- grained.
Locality - Mandalay Region (Sagyin), Kayin State (Hpa- an), and the Shan
Plateau
Uses - The "backbone" of the cement industry in Myanmar. Also used
for building stone, road base, and as a precursor to marble
Group - Chemical/Biochemical Sedimentary
Rock name - Sandstone
Chemical Composition - Mainly composed of quartz (SiO₂); feldspar and small rock
fragments with silica, calcite or iron oxide
Color - Tan, yellow, red (from iron), or greenish- grey
Texture - Clastic; feels "gritty" like sandpaper. Grains range from fine to
coarse
Locality - Pondaung Formation (Upper Myanmar), Mandalay- Sagaing
area, and Rakhine State
Uses - Major building material for ancient and modern structures
(e.g., many pagodas in Bagan). It is also the primary
"reservoir rock" for oil and gas in the Central Lowlands
Group - Clastic Sedimentary
Rock name - Conglomerate
Chemical Composition - Highly variable; consists of rounded rock fragments (clasts)
cemented by a finer matrix of sand or clay
Color - Varied (multi- colored depending on the source rocks of the
pebbles)
Texture - Clastic and very coarse- grained; characterized by large,
rounded pebbles embedded in a matrix
Locality - Irrawaddy Formation (Central Myanmar) and the Tanai area
(Kachin State)
Uses - Used as a coarse aggregate in heavy concrete construction
and as a visual indicator for geologists to find ancient river
channels. In some parts of Myanmar, conglomerates are
"auriferous" (gold- bearing)
Group - Clastic Sedimentary
Lab. No.5 : Study of Structural Block Diagram
Objective : To identify the geological structural found in the field and construction
sides; to
Know the foundation problems which usually occurred in the projects.
Procedures : The patterns of out- crop given in the provided sheet are to be complete
by
Observing three dimensions. Then, the following structures are to be
drawn and
figured out.
1. Synclinal Structure
2. Anticlinal Structure
3. Normal Fault
4. Reverse Fault
5. Thrust Fault
(Completion of Structural Block Diagrams)
(1) Synclinal Structure
A syncline is formed when the strata is bent downwards whose core contains the
stratigraphically younger rocks.
(2) Anticlinal Structure
An anticline is formed when the strata is upwards whose core contains the
stratigraphically older rocks.
(3) Normal Fault
Normal fault from the hanging wall block appears to have moved downward relative to
the footwall block. Normal faults are generally caused by tensional forces.
(4) Reverse Fault
It is a fault in which the hanging wall block appears to have moved upward relative to
the footwall block. Reverse faults are generally caused by compressional forces.
(5) Thrust Fault
Thrust faults or thrust are reverse faults with low angles of dip.