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IS 1805 : 1973Glossary of terms relating to stones, quarrying and dressing

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EN 12670 · ASTM C119 · ISO 19443
CurrentRareTerminologyMaterials Science · Stones
PDFGoogleCompareBIS Portal
Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
OverviewInternationalTablesFAQ3Related

IS 1805:1973 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for glossary of terms relating to stones, quarrying and dressing. This standard provides a comprehensive glossary of terms relating to building stones, covering their geological classification, quarrying techniques, and dressing processes. It ensures uniform terminology is used by civil engineers, architects, and geologists when specifying stone materials and finishes.

Glossary of terms relating to stones, quarrying and dressing

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Rare
Domain
Materials Science — Stones
Type
Terminology
International equivalents
EN 12670:2019 · CEN (European Committee for Standardization), EuropeASTM C119-21 · ASTM International, USAISO 19443:2018 · ISO (International Organization for Standardization), International
Typically used with
IS 1121IS 1122IS 1123
Practical Notes
! Use this code to accurately specify stone dressing finishes (e.g., ashlar, punched, tooled, or rock-faced) in a Bill of Quantities (BOQ) to prevent contractual disputes.
! Highly useful for conservation architects and engineers when interpreting historical architectural restoration documents or legacy masonry specifications.
Frequently referenced clauses
Section 2 - Geological TermsSection 3 - Quarrying TermsSection 4 - Dressing TermsSection 5 - Architectural Stonework Terms
Pulled from IS 1805:1973. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.
stonerockbuilding stone

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
EN 12670:2019CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
HighCurrent
Natural stone - Terminology
Provides a comprehensive vocabulary for natural stone, from geology and quarrying to processing and finished products.
ASTM C119-21ASTM International, USA
HighCurrent
Standard Terminology Relating to Dimension Stone
Defines geological, quarrying, and finishing terms specifically for the dimension stone industry.
ISO 19443:2018ISO (International Organization for Standardization), International
MediumCurrent
Natural stone — Denomination criteria
Overlaps on the classification and naming of stones, which is a sub-section of a full glossary.
BS 6100-5.2:1992BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
LowWithdrawn
Glossary of building and civil engineering terms. Masonry. Terms common to masonry
Contained some overlapping masonry and stone terms, but was much broader and is now outdated.
Key Differences
≠IS 1805:1973 is structured into sections (Geological, Quarrying, Tools, Dressing), whereas modern equivalents like EN 12670 and ASTM C119 are alphabetical, integrated glossaries.
≠The Indian standard includes numerous terms for traditional, manual quarrying and dressing tools (e.g., 'jumper', 'gad', 'pitching tool') that are absent in modern international standards, which focus on mechanized processing.
≠International standards (EN 12670, ASTM C119) include terminology for modern stone treatments like resin filling, reinforcement, and coatings, which are not covered in the 1973 Indian standard.
≠IS 1805 uses strict petrological definitions for rocks (e.g., 'Granite', 'Marble'), while ASTM C119 and EN 12670 acknowledge and define broader commercial classifications that group geologically different stones based on workability and appearance.
Key Similarities
≈All standards share a common purpose: to create an unambiguous vocabulary for the stone industry to facilitate clear communication among stakeholders.
≈Fundamental geological terms for rock types (Sandstone, Limestone, Slate), minerals (Quartz, Feldspar), and features (bedding plane, grain) are defined in a technically similar manner across all standards.
≈Core concepts of quarrying, such as 'overburden', 'quarry bed', 'joint', and the extraction of a 'block', are universally defined.
≈Basic surface finishes like 'polished', 'honed', and 'sawn finish' have conceptually identical definitions, describing the progressive refinement of a stone surface.
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Commercial definition of 'Granite'Not explicitly defined; uses a strict geological definition of a crystalline igneous rock.A commercial term for igneous rocks and some metamorphic rocks (e.g., gneiss) that have similar hardness, texture, and are polishable.ASTM C119-21
Commercial definition of 'Marble'Not explicitly defined; uses a strict geological definition of a metamorphosed carbonate rock.Metamorphic rock consisting predominantly of calcite and/or dolomite. Note: Commercially, the term includes other rocks that can be polished and are suitable for decoration.EN 12670:2019
Term for resin treatmentAbsent. The standard does not cover modern large-scale resin treatment of slabs.Defines 'Resin treated slab' as a slab treated with resin to improve its structural integrity or to fill macroscopic voids.EN 12670:2019
Definition of 'Honed Finish'A smooth, matt surface obtained by stopping the polishing process at a stage before the final gloss is produced.A satin-smooth surface finish with little or no gloss, recommended for commercial floors.ASTM C119-21
Term for natural splitting in slateCleavage: The property of a rock by virtue of which it can be split along parallel planes.Fissility: Property of a rock to be split along planes determined by its fabric. NOTE: Characteristic property of slate.EN 12670:2019
Classification of SandstoneClassified as a Sedimentary rock. Sub-types mentioned include Calcareous, Ferruginous, Siliceous.Defined geologically. ASTM further groups it commercially under 'Quartz-Based Stone' along with quartzite and bluestone.ASTM C119-21
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values0

No quick reference values available for this code yet.

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
No tables data
Key Clauses
Section 2 - Geological Terms
Section 3 - Quarrying Terms
Section 4 - Dressing Terms
Section 5 - Architectural Stonework Terms

Related Resources on InfraLens

Cross-Referenced Codes
IS 1121:1974Methods of Test for Determination of Strength...
→
IS 1122:1974Method of test for determination of true spec...
→
IS 1123:1975Method of identification of natural building ...
→

Frequently Asked Questions3

What is the primary scope of IS 1805?+
It standardizes definitions for terms used in stone geology, quarrying extraction, and surface dressing or finishing.
Does this standard provide testing criteria or physical requirements for stones?+
No, it is strictly a terminology code. Refer to the IS 1121 series for strength tests and IS 1123 for petrography.
What is meant by 'dressing' of stones in construction?+
The process of shaping, cutting, and smoothing rough quarried stones into specific dimensions and desired surface finishes for building purposes.

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