SOLVED PROBLEMS

1. A cylindrical sample of rock has a length of 37.7 cm and a diameter of 7.50 cm. The
mass of the sample is 4747 g. Find the unit weight of the rock, in kN/m3.

Sol. V = πr 2 h = 1.65x10−3 m3

m
ρrock = = 2.9x103 kg / m3
V
∴ γ = ρg = 2.9x103 x9.8 = 27.93 kNm −3

2. Find the unit weight of rock with a specific gravity of 3.08.

Sol. γ w = ρg = 1000x9.8 = 9.8x103 kg / m3

γ rock
G= ⇒ γ rock = Gγ w = 3.08x9800 = 30.2x103 N m −3
γ water

3. Calculate the volume of a rock slab with unit weight 29.5 kN/m3 and mass 4570 kg.

4570x9.8
Sol. γ = mg / N ; V = mg / γ = 3
= 1.5 m3
29.5x10

4. A block of granite has edge lengths 1.24 m, 0.820 m, 0.933 m. It weighs 24.7 kN. (a)
Find the unit weight of the granite. (b) Find its specific gravity.

W 24.7x103
Sol. (a) γ granite = = = 26 kN / m3
V (1.24x0.820x0.933)
 26x103
(b) G = γ granite / γ water = = 2.65
9800

5. A block of rock has edge lengths 45.0 cm, 37.2 cm, 12.8 cm. Its porosity is 38.4%. Find
the total volume of the pores in the block.

( )
Sol. V = 45x10−2 x37.2x10−2 x12.8x10−2 = 21.4x10−3 m3

Vpores
n= ; Vpores = nV = 0.384x21.4x10−3 = 8.2x10−3 m3
V

6. The specific gravity of a rock is 2.94. The porosity of the rock is 0.344. Calculate the
specific gravity of the grains.

ρrock
Sol. G = ; ρ rock = Gρ w = 2.9x103 kgm −3
ρ water

ρgrain = ρrock /1 − n = 2.94x103 / (1 − 0.344 ) = 4.5x103 kgm−3

G grain = ρgrain / ρ water = 4.5x103 /103 = 4.5

7. A 12.74 m3 block of rock has a porosity of 26.40%. What is the volume of this rock after
the block is crushed just sufficiently to close all the pores?

Sol. Vgrain = Vo (1 − n) = 12.78 (1 − 0.264 ) = 9.4 m3

8. A block of rock has edge lengths 1.22 m, 2.40 m, 1.81 m. When dry its mass is 14.7 Mg;
when saturated with water its mass is 16.6 Mg. Find the porosity of the rock. (The SI
prefix M stands for 1 X 106.)
 Sol. m pores = (16.6 − 14.7 )106 = 1.9x103 kg

Vpores = m / ρ = 1.9x103 /103 = 1.9 m3

n = Vpores / V = 1.9 / 5.3 = 0.4

9. A slab of rock has a volume of 5.56 m3 and a porosity of 0.417. It is saturated with oil of
density 0.620 g/cm3. Find the weight of the oil in the slab.

Sol. Vpores = nV = 0.417x5.56 = 2.32m3

( )
ρ = m / V ; m = ρV = 620 kg / m3 x2.32 = 1438.4 kg

w = mg = 1438.4x9.8 = 14.1x103 = 14.1kN

10. A rock saturated with oil has a unit weight of 29.3 kN/m3. When dry the rock has a unit
weight of 26.4 kN/m3. The porosity of the rock is 0.370. Determine the density of the
oil.

Sol. γ sat = γ dry + nγ oil

γ oil = ( γ sat − γ dry ) n =

( 29.3 − 26.4 )103 = 7.838 kN / m3
0.370
γ oil = ρoil g ; ρoil = γ oil / g = 7.838x103 / 9.8 = 799.8 kg / m3

11. Calculate the porosity of a 92.0 cm3 sample of rock containing 1270 spherical pores,
each with a diameter of 3.82 mm.

Sol.
 3

Vpores
4 3 4 3.83x10
= 1270x πr = 1270x π
(
−3
) = 3.7x10−5 m3 = 37 cm3
3 3 2

n = Vpores / V = 37 / 92 = 0.4

12. A sample of rock has a very irregular shape for which there is no formula for the volume.
When placed into a graduated cylinder containing water filled to the 65.0 mL mark, the
water level rises to the 107.5 mL mark. Immediately upon removal from the water, the
sample is found to have a mass of 118.3 g. The sample is then dried in an oven, thereby
driving out any water that seeped into the rock while it was submerged. When
reweighed, the mass of the rock sample is found to be 116.9 g. Find (a) the volume of
the sample, (b) its density and (c) its specific gravity.

Sol.

(a) Vf = 107.5 ml Vi = 65 mL ∴V = 107.5 − 85.0 = 42.5 mL = 42.5cm3

(b) ( ) ( )
ρ = m / V = 116.g(g) / 42.5 cm3 = 2.8 g / cm3 = 2.8x103 kg / m3

(c) G = ρrock / ρw = 2.8x103 /1000 = 2.8

13. A cube of chalk with porosity 38.4 has an edge length of 1.40 m. The chalk is crushed,
closing all the pores, and then reshaped into a cube. What is the edge length of the
new cube ?

Vpores
Sol. Vo = 2.74 m3 ; n = , Vpores = nVo = 0.384x2.74 = 1.05m3
Vo
 But Vf = Vo − Vpores = 2.74 − 1.05 = 1.69m3
The new edge length is 3 1.69 = 1.19
Or use (1 − n o ) Vo = (1 − n)Vf
( 1 − n o ) Vo (1 − 0.384 )1.43
Vf = = = 1.69 m3
(1 − n ) (1 − o )
∴L = 3 1.69 = 1.19 m

14. A cylindrical sample of rock has a diameter of 8.48 cm and a length of 14.6 cm. When
dry it weighs 22.8 N; when saturated with water it weighs 28.0 N. (a) Find the porosity
of the rock. (b) What is the volume of the water in the sample when saturated with
water ?

Sol. (a) VL = nV

γ s − γ d = nγ oil
Ws Wd 28 22.8
V
−
V
= n ( ρL g ) ;
824.2x10 −6
−
824.2x10 −6
= N 103 x9.8 ( )
( )
∴ n = 104 ( 3.39723 − 2.76632 ) / 9.8x103 = 0.644

(b) VL = nV = 0.644x824.2 = 531cm3

15. A particular dry oil shale has a density of 2.13 g/cm3. When saturated with oil of specific
gravity 0.600, the rock yields 30.0 gallons of oil per 1.00 ton of saturated rock. Find the
porosity of the shale. (1 U.S. fluid gallon = 3786 cm3; 1 ton = 8896 N.)

Sol. ρsat = ρdry + nρo

 ρOil = Gρw = 0.600x1000 = 600 kg / m3
VOil = 30x3786 /1000000 = 0.114m3
∴ m Oil = ρOil xVOil = 0.114 x 600 = 68.2kg
But
msat = mdry + mOil
907.7kg = mdry + 68.2kg
mdry = 907.7 − 68.2 = 839.6kg
∴ Vrock = m rock ( dry ) / ρ = 839.6 / 2130 = 0.394m3

ρsat = msat / Vrock

ρsat = 907.7kg / 0.394m3 = 2303.8kg / m3
ρsat = ρdry + nρoil
2303.8 = 2130 + n600

n = 0.2896
n ≈ 29
Or
Vpore = nVrock
0.114 = n0.394m3
n = 0.289
n ≈ 29

16. A cylindrical sample of rock has a diameter of 6.57 cm and a length of 15.8 cm. The rock
has a unit weight of 36.2 kN/m3. Find the mass of the rock sample.

m
Sol. V = πr 2 L = 5.36x10−4 m 3 ; γ = g
V

36.2x103 x5.36x10−4
∴m = γV / g = = 1.98 kg
9.8
17. A rock has a density of 2.77 g/cm3. The grains of the rock have a density of 3840 kg/m3.
Calculate the porosity of the rock.

Sol. ρgrain = ρrock / (1 − n ) ; n = 1 − ρrock / ρgrain = 0.28

18. A block of dimension stone has edge lengths 1.13 m, 2.26 m, 1.30 m. When dry the
mass of the block is 10,300 kg. The porosity of the stone is 26.4%. Find the mass of the
block when it is saturated with liquid mercury.

Sol. V = 1.13x2.26x1.3 = 3.32 m3 ; n = 0.264

Wd = 10.3x9.8 = 100.94 N ; VL = nV = 0.264x3.32 = 0.876 m3

W
/ d/ Wsat w WHg
= d +n
V/ V V VHg
Wsat Wd  
= + n  ρgV/ Hg  V
/ Hg
V V  Hg 
W 100940
∴ sat =
3.32 3.32
(
+ 0.264 13.6x103 x9.8 )
Wsat = ( 30403 + 35185.92 ) 3.32
Wsat = 217755.2 N
msat = 2.2x104 kg

19. A dry oil shale has a unit weight of 26.3 kN/m3. When saturated with oil of unit weight
5.80 kN/m3, the shale has a unit weight of 28.9 kN/m3. How many gallons of oil can be
extracted from 4.72 x 106 m3 of saturated oil shale ?

w oil
Sol. γ sat = γ dry +
V

w oil = ( 29.8 − 26.3) x4.72x106

w oil = 1.227x1010 N
moil = 1.25x109 kg
 mo 1.25x109 ( kg )
but ρo = ; Vo = = 2112200 m3
Vo 591.8 kg / m −
(
3
)
Voil = 2.11x106 m3 = 2.11x1012 cm3
since 1US fluid gallon = 3786 cm3
2.11x1012
∴ No. of gallons = = 5.57x108 = 557 million gallons
3786

20. A rectangular slab of rock has edge lengths 28.2 cm, 1.46 m, 1.88 m. When dry, the unit
weight of the rock is 25.7 kN/m3. When saturated with oil of unit weight 6.40 kN/m3,
the unit weight of the rock becomes 28.1 kN/m3. Find the total volume of the pores in
the rock.

Sol. V = 0.282x1.46x1.88 = 0.774 m 3

γ sat − γ dry ( 28.1 − 25.7 )103

γ sat = γ dry + nγ oil ; n = = = 0.3
γ oil 6.40x103
Vpores ( = voil )
but n= , Voil = n V = 0.38x0.77 ≈ 0.296
V
OR
wo wo w
γ sat = γ dry + ; 28.1 = 25.7 + ; w o = 1.86 kN; γ = o
V 0.774 Vo
∴ Vo = w o / γ o = 1.86x103 / 6.4x103 ⇒ 0.296

21. A block of oil shale with a volume of 0.774 m3 is saturated with 0.311 m3 of oil. The unit
weight of the saturated oil shale is 27.8 kN/m3. After all of the oil has been driven out of
the rock, the unit weight of the rock is 25.2 kN/m3. Find the specific gravity of the oil.

Sol. γ sat = γ dry + w L / V

 ( )
w L = ( γ s − γ d ) V = ( 27.8 − 25.2 ) 103 ( 0.774 )

w L 2.012x103
w L = 2.02x103 N ; m L = = = 205 kg
g 9.8
mo 205
ρ= = = 660 kg m −3
Vo 0.311
G = ρoil / ρwater = 660 /1000 = 0.66

22. A 2.74 m3 block of rock saturated with water has a unit weight of 32.4 kN/m3. The rock
has a porosity of 0.276. Find the weight of the rock when dry.

wd
Sol. γ sat = + n γ water
V

wd = V ( γ sat − nγ w )
= 2.74 ( 32.4 − 0.276x9.8 )
= 81.4 kN

23. A dry oil shale has a unit weight of 25.8 kN/m3. When saturated with oil of specific
gravity 0.650, the shale has a unit weight 29.3 kN/m3. How many barrels of oil can be
extracted from 7400 m3 of this saturated oil shale ? (1 barrel = 119,300 cm3.)

wo
Sol. γ s = γ d + ; w o = ( γ s − γ d ) V = ( 29.3 − 25.8 )( 7400 ) = 25900
V
 w o = 2.59x107 N ; ∴ m o = 2.26x106 kg
m m γ o ρo
ρ= ; Vo = o but G = = ∴ ρo = ρ w G = 650 kg / m3
V ρo γ w ρw
∴ Vo = 2.26x106 / 650 = 4065 m3 = 4065X106 cm3
4065x106
but 1 barrel (bb1) = 119500 cm3 ∴ no of barrels = = 34100 bb
119300

24. A dry rock has a density of 2730 kg/m3 and a grain density of 4.82 g/cm3. (a) Find the
porosity of the rock. (b) Find the unit weight of the rock.

Sol.

 2730 
(a ) ρgrain = ρrock / (1 − n ) ⇒ n = 1 − ( ρrocket / ρgrain ) = 1 −   = 0.43
 4820 

(b) γ rock = ρg = 2730x9.8 = 26.8x103 N / m3 = 26.8 kN / m3

25. A block of rock saturated with water has edge lengths of 1.20 m, 1.47 m, 1.35 m. The
porosity of the rock is 28.4%. Find the volume of water squeezed out of the rock when
it is crushed so that all the pores are closed.

Sol. Vt = 2.38 m3 ; n = Vpores / V ; Vpores = Vwater = nV

∴ Vwater = 0.284x2.38 = 0.68 m3

26. A 2420 kg block of rock has edge lengths 0.94 m, 1.26 m, 1.15 m. The grain density is
2.87 g/cm3. Find the porosity of the rock.

m 2420
Sol. ρrock = = = 1.8x103 kg / m3
V 1.36

 1.8x103 
ρgrain = ρ / (1 − n ) ∴ n = 1 − ( ρrock / ρgrain ) = 1 −  3
= 0.
 2.87x10 
37

27. Mine tailings saturated with water form a triangular prism 15.2 m wide, 15.2 m high and
83.0 m long when dumped on the ground. Later, after the tailings have settled,
squeezing out all the water, they form a triangular prism of the same length but now
19.5 m wide and 8.70 m high. Find the porosity of the freshly-dumped tailings.

2 3 3
Sol. Vprism = base x height = (15.2 ) x83 = 19.2x10 m

Vpores = 19.5x8.70x83 = 14.1x103 m3

n = Vpores / Vprism = 14.1x103 /19.2x103 = 0.73