NABL Accredited · Rock Testing
Water Absorption & True Specific Gravity of Rock(IS 13030:1991)
Laboratory determination of water content, porosity, density, water absorption and true specific gravity of rock per IS 13030 — the index properties that screen durability for building stone, armour rock and aggregates.
IS 13030
Index Suite
3–5 Days
Report TAT
NABL
Accredited
NABL Accredited Lab · ISO/IEC 17025:2017
Digital Reports via Autovity QLMS
Pan-India · 7 Lab Locations
Est. 2009 · 20,000+ Projects
Overview
What are the Water Absorption & Specific Gravity Tests of Rock?
A rock's porosity, density, water absorption and true specific gravity are its fingerprint: they flag weathering susceptibility, frost and salt durability, and suitability as building stone, riprap or aggregate source long before expensive strength programmes begin. IS 13030:1991 (Method of Test for Laboratory Determination of Water Content, Porosity, Density and Related Properties of Rock Material) is the Indian reference procedure.
Global Lab determines the full index suite — natural water content, dry and saturated densities, apparent and true porosity, water absorption by immersion, and true specific gravity by pulverised-sample pycnometry — with results reported per specimen and as sample statistics for source-approval decisions.
Reviewed by Mahemood Ahmad, Lab Manager — NABL Accredited Laboratory, Global Lab India
Full Index Suite
Water content, densities, porosity, absorption and true SG in one programme.
NABL Accredited
Index data valid for source approval and durability screening.
IS 13030 Method
The Indian rock index standard, applied clause by clause.
Fast Turnaround
Index suite reported in 3–5 working days.
Durability Signals
Absorption and porosity flags weather-prone stone before it is bought.
Digital Reports
Certificates delivered via the Autovity QLMS dashboard.
Test Procedure
How the Water Absorption & True Specific Gravity of Rock is Conducted
- 1
Specimen Preparation
Regular or irregular specimens are prepared per IS 13030 mass requirements; natural water content specimens are sealed on receipt. - 2
Water Content & Dry Density
Specimens are weighed, oven-dried to constant mass and re-weighed; water content and dry density are computed. - 3
Saturation & Absorption
Specimens are saturated by immersion (with vacuum where specified); saturated mass gives water absorption and saturated density. - 4
Porosity Determination
Apparent porosity is derived from saturated and dry masses with volume by buoyancy; true porosity uses true SG. - 5
True Specific Gravity
A pulverised sub-sample is tested by pycnometer to determine true specific gravity of the rock solids. - 6
Reporting
The complete index suite with per-specimen and mean values is issued via Autovity QLMS.
Standards & Specifications
Applicable Test Standards
| Standard | Title | Scope | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| IS 13030:1991 | Method of Test for Laboratory Determination of Water Content, Porosity, Density and Related Properties of Rock Material (Reaffirmed) | Test Methods | Indian Standard |
| IS 1122:1974 | Method of Test for Determination of True Specific Gravity of Natural Building Stones (Reaffirmed) | Building Stone SG | Indian Standard |
| IS 1124:1974 | Method of Test for Determination of Water Absorption, Apparent Specific Gravity and Porosity of Natural Building Stones (Reaffirmed) | Building Stone Absorption | Indian Standard |
Applications
Where is the Water Absorption & True Specific Gravity of Rock Used?
Building and dimension stone source approval
Riprap, armour and gabion stone durability screening
Aggregate source characterisation
Weathering-grade assessment in investigations
Tunnel muck and excavated rock reuse evaluation
Baseline indices accompanying UCS/modulus programmes
Why Choose Global Lab
Our Advantages
Complete Index FingerprintSix properties from one specimen stream — efficient characterisation.
NABL Accredited ReportsValid for source approvals and QA records.
Dual-Standard CoverageRock (IS 13030) and building stone (IS 1122/1124) methods available.
Fast Turnaround3–5 working day reporting.
Pan-India CoverageSample receipt and testing across our 7 lab locations.
Digital ReportingCertificates delivered via the Autovity QLMS dashboard.
Quick Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
What standard governs the Water Absorption & True Specific Gravity of Rock?
Water Absorption & True Specific Gravity of Rock is tested per IS 13030:1991, IS 1122:1974 and IS 1124:1974.
How long does the Water Absorption & True Specific Gravity of Rock take?
Reports are typically issued within 3–5 Days of sample receipt at the lab, delivered digitally via the Autovity QLMS client dashboard.
Where is the Water Absorption & True Specific Gravity of Rock used?
It is commonly used for building and dimension stone source approval, and for riprap, armour and gabion stone durability screening.