EN 12670:2001

Natural stone - Terminology

This European Standard defines the recommended terminology covering scientific, and technical terms, test methods, products, and the classification of Natural Stones.

Naturstein - Terminologie

Diese Europäische Norm definiert die empfohlene Terminologie für wissenschaftliche und technische Begriffe, Prüfverfahren, Produkte und die Klassifizierung von Naturstein.

Pierre naturelle - Terminologie

La présente Norme européenne définit une terminologie recommandée des termes scientifiques et techniques, des méthodes d'essai et des produits ainsi qu'une classification des pierres naturelles.

Naravni kamen - Terminologija

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 11-Dec-2001
• Withdrawal Date: 13-Apr-2025
• ICS: 01.040.73 - Mining and minerals (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 01.040.91 - Construction materials and building (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 73.020 - Mining and quarrying
• ICS: 91.100.15 - Mineral materials and products
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 246 - Natural stones
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 246/WG 1 - Terminology, classification and characteristics
• Current Stage: 9960 - Withdrawal effective - Withdrawal
• Start Date: 12-Jun-2019
• Completion Date: 14-Apr-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 12670:2002 - Natural stone - Terminology

Relations

• Replaced By: EN 12670:2019 - Natural stone - Terminology
• Effective Date: 12-Aug-2015

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Naravni kamen - TerminologijaNaturstein - TerminologiePierre naturelle - TerminologieNatural stone - Terminology73.020Rudarstvo in kamnolomsko izkopavanjeMining and quarrying91.100.15Mineralni materiali in izdelkiMineral materials and products01.040.73Rudarstvo in rudnine (Slovarji)Mining and minerals (Vocabularies)01.040.91Gradbeni materiali in gradnja (Slovarji)Construction materials and building (Vocabularies)ICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 12670:2001SIST EN 12670:2002en01-maj-2002SIST EN 12670:2002SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARDNORME EUROPÉENNEEUROPÄISCHE NORMEN 12670December 2001ICS 01.040.73; 01.040.91; 73.020; 91.100.15English versionNatural stone - TerminologyPierre naturelle - TerminologieNaturstein - TerminologieThis European Standard was approved by CEN on 20 October 2001.CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this EuropeanStandard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such nationalstandards may be obtained on application to the Management Centre or to any CEN member.This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translationunder the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Management Centre has the same status as the officialversions.CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATIONCOMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATIONEUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNGManagement Centre: rue de Stassart, 36
B-1050 Brussels© 2001 CENAll rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reservedworldwide for CEN national Members.Ref. No. EN 12670:2001 ESIST EN 12670:2002

Alphabetic Index.47Bibliography.53SIST EN 12670:2002

For
the purposes of this European Standard the following abbreviations apply:e.g.
for example (Latin exempli gratia);i.e.
that is (Latin id est).2.1 Geological terms2.1.1 accessory minerals: Rock-forming minerals that occur in such small amounts that they arenot included in the classification of the rock.NOTE
Accessory minerals can be used to state precisely the name of the rock, e.g. biotite granite. (See also EN12440).2.1.2 acid rock: Igneous rock that contains more than 65 % of silica.2.1.3 actinolite: Ca-Mg-Fe-amphibole. See amphibole formula.2.1.4 agate: Cryptocrystalline variety of silica, showing a variegated banded structure and waxyluster.2.1.5 agglomerate: Extrusive pyroclastic rock of consolidated or unconsolidated coarse volcanicfragments (with diameters greater than 64 mm), in which rounded pyroclasts predominate.2.1.6 alabaster: Fine grained, compact variety of gypsum, usually white or pale coloured andtranslucent.2.1.7 albite: Sodium plagioclase, formula Na Al Si3 O8 See plagioclase.2.1.8 alkali feldspar: The alkali-rich feldspars microcline, orthoclase, sanidine, albite, with less than5% anorthite. See feldspar and plagioclase.2.1.9 allochems: One of the several varieties of discrete and organized carbonate aggregates thatserve as the coarser framework grains in most mechanically deposited limestones. Importantallochems include: silt, sand, gravelsize intraclasts ooids; pellets; lumps and fossils or fossilfragments.2.1.10 allotriomorphic; anhedral; xenomorphic:
Term applied to minerals which show in thinsections no characteristic or rational faces, suggested by its crystalline structure.2.1.11 alteration: Changes of the mineralogical composition of a rock brought about by physical,chemical or biological means, including actions of hydrothermal solutions and weatheringprocesses. Differs from metamorphism in being milder, more localized and not restricted tohigh temperatures.2.1.12 alumina; corundum: A mineral, formula Al2O3. Used in fine polishing.2.1.13 amorphous: Mineral that does not have a crystalline structure.2.1.14 amphibole: Family of dark ferromagnesian silicate minerals, general formulaA2-3B5(Si,Al)8O22(OH)2, where A= Mg, Fe2+, Ca, Na; B=Mg, Fe2+, Fe3+, Al.2.1.15 amphibolite: Metamorphic rock consisting mainly of amphibole and plagioclase. See 3.2.3.12.1.16 amygdaloidal: Fabric of volcanic rocks where vesicles are present, which are full or partiallyfilled with secondary minerals.2.1.17 analcime: A mineral Na AlSi2O6 H2O of the zeolite group, which can occur in basalts. SeeSIST EN 12670:2002

mainly composed of sand-size detrital fragments ormineral grains, usually the term is used with a prefix that refers to its composition or genesis,e.g. quartzarenite. See also 3.2.2.42.1.32 argillite: Consolidated sedimentary rock mainly composed wholly of detrital clay-size particlesor clay minerals.2.1.33 arkose: Sedimentary detrital rock with less than 75 % quartz and a high content of feldspargrains. See 3.2.2.4.2.1.34 augen fabric; ocellar fabric: Fabric in some rocks, usually metamorphic, consisting ofellipsoidal or lens-shaped porphyroblasts, crystals, or fragments, rounded and enveloped bythe foliation, resembling eyes (augen) in a cross section.2.1.35 augite (clinopyroxenes): Mineral of the pyroxene group (clinopiroxenes), general formula(Ca,Na) (Mg,Fe2+,Al) (Si,Al) 2O62.1.36 banded: Rock having alternating nearly parallel layers that differ in colour, fabric or mineralcomposition, and because of that it shows alternating bands in a cross section.2.1.37 basalt (basanite): a) Scientifically: volcanic rock consisting essentially of plagioclase (labradorite-anorthite) andpyroxene and includes a fine grained to dense fabric (See 3.2.1.3). b) Commercially: basalt is a natural stone as per the scientific definition of basalt and other rockssuch as basalt, picrites, diabases, dolerites and microgabbros.2.1.38 basic: Igneous rock with more than 45 % and less than 52 % of silice.2.1.39 bedding plane: a) A planar or nearly planar surface that visibly separates the individual beds, layers or strata,especially in sedimentary rocks.SIST EN 12670:2002

hydrous silicates of aluminium with a layeredcrystalline structure; iron, magnesium, potassium, and other cations are also present in theirformula; the most common clay minerals belong to illite, montmorillonite, and kaolinite mineralsubgroups.2.1.75 clay slate; shale: A weakly metamorphosed claystone with intermediate character between aclaystone and a true slate.2.1.76 claystone: A rock with more than 67 % claysized minerals.2.1.77 cleavage: a) Tendency of a rock to split along closely spaced planar surfaces, originated by recrystallizationand strain during metamorphism and tectonic deformation; the type of rock, strain intensity, andmetamorphic grade, control the type of cleavage developed; see slaty cleavage, crenulationcleavage, schistosity, and rough cleavage; b) The splitting of a mineral along its crystallographic planes, thus reflecting crystal structure.2.1.78 columnar: A structure of some volcanic rocks, such as basalt, consisting of parallel, prismaticcolumns, polygonal in cross section, nearly perpendicular to the top and the bottom of theflow.2.1.79 comb layering; Willow-Lake layering: A fabric of igneous rocks consisting of bands ofelongated crystals with nearly vertical mineral-elongation relative to the border of the bands.2.1.80 concretion: A collective term applied loosely to various primary and secondary segregationsof diverse origin, including irregular nodules, spherulites, crystalline aggregates, geodes,septarias and related bodies.2.1.81 conglomerate: Coarse-grained sedimentary rock composed of rounded to subangularfragments (pebbles, cobbles, boulders), set in a fine-grained matrix of sand or clay, andcommonly cemented.SIST EN 12670:2002

Metamorphic rock consisting essentially of garnet and sodic pyroxene (omphacite).2.1.109 elongate fabric: Fabric of granoblastic metamorphic rocks in which the crystals tend to beelongated with preferred orientation.2.1.110 epidote: A mineral Ca2(Fe,Al)Al2[O(OH)(SiO4)(Si2O7)] common in some metamorphic rocks oras alteration product.2.1.111 equigranular fabric: Rock containing crystals of a similar size.2.1.112 erathem: Chronostratigraphic unit. An erathem consists of several adjacent systems.2.1.113 essential minerals; main minerals: Those minerals existing in a rock that are used for itsclassification in main petrographic families or classes; see quartz, alkali feldspar, plagioclase,feldspathoids. (See also EN 12407).2.1.114 essexite: Plutonic rock composed essentially of plagioclase, alkali feldspar, feldspathoids e.g.nepheline, and dark minerals.2.1.115 eucrystalline; eucrystallized: Well crystallized igneous rocks.2.1.116 euhedral; idiomorphic: A mineral grain in an igneous rock which is bounded entirely by itscrystal faces.2.1.117 exfoliation: The process by which concentric or parallel scales of rock are spalled from thesurface of a large rock mass.2.1.118 extrusive rocks; volcanic rocks: Igneous rocks that come to the surface of the earth in amolten condition.2.1.119 fabric: Spatial arrangement and geometrical relationships of the rock elements, as observedin hand specimen or by optical microscope.2.1.120 fabric, depositional: A fabric resulting from deposition of sediments or gravity differentiationof igneous rocks.2.1.121 fabric element: Rock component that acts as a unit in deformation.2.1.122 fabric, growth: Fabric grown without stress and movement.2.1.123 facies: General appearance or nature of a rock mass, differentiating such unit from adjacentor associated units.2.1.124 fault: A fracture with displacement of the sides.2.1.125 feldspar: Group of silicate minerals with the chemical composition KAlSi3O8 (orthoclase,microcline), NaAlSi3O8 (albite), CaAl2Si2O8 (anorthite) with certain miscibility of thesecomponents; see anorthite, microcline, orthoclase, sanidine, plagioclase.2.1.126 feldspathic: Containing feldspar in a considerable amount.2.1.127 feldspathic sandstone; subarkose: A sandstone with less feldspar than an arkose (lessthan 15 % matrix, between 75 % and 95 % quartz, more feldspar, and less fragments ofrocks). (See 3.3.2.2).2.1.128 fels: A suffix added to the name of a a mineral, indicating a metamorphic rock with more than80 % of that mineral, e.g. albite-fels, quartz-fels=quartzite. (See 3.2.3.1).2.1.129 felsic: Containing feldspar, feldspathoids and other light silicates like quartz.2.1.130 ferruginous: Containing iron.2.1.131 fissile bedding: Bedding with laminae less than 2 mm in thickness.2.1.132 fissility: The property of splitting easily along closely spaced parallel planes.SIST EN 12670:2002

their nature adjustingthe mineralogical composition, structure, and texture to the different physico-chemicalconditions existing in the earth; diagenesis is usually not considered as metamorphism.2.1.251 metasomatism: Metamorphic process by which the chemical composition of a rock or rockportion is altered in a pervasive manner and which involves the introduction or removal ofsubstances, others than H2O and CO2.2.1.252 miarolitic: The fabric applied to small cavities in igneous rocks, especially common ingranites, into which small crystals project.2.1.253 mica: A mineral group consisting of silicates characterized by very perfect basal cleavage, theformula of the group is (K,Na,Ca)(Mg,Fe,Li,Al)2-3 (Al,Si)4O10(OH,F)2
See biotite, muscovite.2.1.254 micacite: A metamorphic rock whose essential constituents are mica and quartz and whoseschistosity is mainly due to parallel arrangement of mica flakes. Syn: mica schist.2.1.255 micrite: Fine crystalline matrix of limestones (See 3.2.2.1).2.1.256 microcline: A member of the feldspar group, composition KAlSi3O8. See also feldspar.SIST EN 12670:2002

to a rock in which the individual crystals can onlybe seen under the microscope.2.1.259 microfabric: Refers to the microscopical structure and texture of a rock.2.1.260 migmatite: A metamorphic mixed rock in which two components are intimately mingled, ahost material representing pre-existing rocks and a granitic componenet which is at least inpart derived from an outside source.2.1.261 mineral: A homogeneous naturally occurring solid phase.NOTE
The solid parts of living plants and animals are not regarded as minerals.2.1.262 mineral replacement: The process of practically simultaneous disintegration and depositionby which a new mineral of partly or wholly differing chemical composition may grow in thebody of an old mineral or mineral aggregate.2.1.263 minor elements: Components with concentrations less than 0,5 %.2.1.264 modal composition; mode: Mineral content of a rock determined by polarizing microscope involume percentage.2.1.265 Mohs scale; hardness scale: The empirical scale developed by Mohs in which the relativehardness of a mineral is assessed: 1. Talc; 2. Gypsum; 3. Calcite; 4. Fluorite; 5. Apatite; 6.Orthoclase; 7. Quartz; 8. Topaz; 9. Corundum; 10. Diamond.2.1.266 monzonite: A group of plutonic rocks standing compositionally between syenite and diorite(See 3.2.1.1).2.1.267 mosaic fabric: Applied to the fabric sometimes seen in rocks whose crystal fragments areangular and granular and
appear, in polarized light, like the pieces of a mosaic.2.1.268 mudstone; pelite: Fine sediments like clay, silt, siltstone, claystone, shale, and argillite.2.1.269 muscovite: A member of the mica group, usually white, general formula KAl2(AlSi3)O10(OH,F)22.1.270 mylonite: Fine-grained, laminated rock with deformation fabric and grains showing areduction in size, formed by brecciation and milling of rocks during deformation. Mylonites thatshow recrystallization are called blastomylonites.2.1.271 myrmekitic fabric: Fabric of igneous rocks showing an intergrowth of plagioclase with worm-like quartz often penetrating into alkali feldpar.2.1.272 natural stone: A piece of naturally occurring rock.2.1.273 nematoblastic fabric: Fabric of a recrystallized rock in which the shape of the grains isthreadlike.2.1.274 nepheline: Silicate mineral of the feldspathoids group, formula (NaK)AlSiO4.2.1.275 nepheline syenite: Plutonic
rock
consisting of alkali feldspar, nepheline, and an alkaliamphibole or pyroxene. (See 3.2.1.1).2.1.276 nephelinite: A foidite composed primarily of nepheline and mafic minerals. (See foidite and3.2.1.1).2.1.277 nodule: Small more or less rounded body generally somewhat harder than the enclosingsediment or rock matrix.2.1.278 norite: A plutonic rock like gabbro but with more orthopyroxene than clinopyroxene. (See3.2.1.1).2.1.279 nummulite limestone: A formation made up chiefly of fossil shells of certain foraminifers(nummulites).2.1.280 obsidian: Dark rhyolitic volcanic glass. (See rhyolite).SIST EN 12670:2002
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