Is Granite Or Sandstone More Resistant To Acid Rain

Granite is extremely resistant and sandstone a little less so due to the percentage of quartz that each rock type contains.

Is granite or sandstone more resistant to acid rain.

Granite is primarily composed of silicate minerals like feldspar and quartz which are resistant to acid attack. Which type of rock is most resistant to acid rain. Acid rain is rain that has an excess of protons h present usually as a result of pollutants in the air. Sandstone is also primarily composed of silica and is thus resistant.

Therefore it will not buffer acid rain like limestone will. Additionally granite has an interlocking. A lake surrounded by granite rock is likely to suffer more damage from acid rain because the granite is composed of silicates and does not undergo any acid base reaction. Limestone is a rock that is composed of calcium carbonate caco3.

Granite is composed primarily of feldspars and quartz which are much higher on the hardness scale making it more resistant to abrasion weathering. The longer the acid rain sits on the granite the more quickly it deteriorates the stone. Conversely granite will withstand even severe weather. For severe environments granite is a more lasting material but one which is far more difficult to work and much less suitable for.

While more resistant than limestone it is subject to attack by weak acids and so performs poorly in outdoor environments subject to acid rain. Granite in the earth s structure when beds of freshwater lakes are made of soils and rocks containing calcium and magnesium the acid rain is neutralized and a healthy alkaline level is maintained. Granite is commonly used as a building stone and for ornamental pieces and is very resistant it is also very hard to work. Limestone id dominantly calcium carbonate and although also used for buildings and statues especially in its more highly crystalline form of marble is very soluble in acid rain.

A few sandstones are less resistant because they contain a carbonate cement that dissolves readily in weak acid. Granite s lack of reaction with acid also means that gravestone made of granite are going to last longer than those. Granite sandstone marble or limestone.