Mineral and Rock Density Table

The mineral and rock density calculator is built for fast lookup, simple comparisons, and easy everyday use. It helps make sense of how dense different minerals and rock types are under changing temperature and pressure. The interface is set up for quick work, not theory lessons. Pick a material, choose the unit system, enter temperature and pressure, and the calculator shows density, specific volume, and two live graphs.

The biggest strength of this tool is speed. It is designed to answer the kind of questions people actually ask: which rock is heavier for the same volume, how much density changes when conditions change, what a value means in Imperial units, and how one material compares with another. Everything is laid out to keep those answers close at hand.

What the calculator shows

The calculator gives 2 main results: density and specific volume. Density tells how much mass fits into a given volume. Specific volume is the reverse idea, showing how much space 1 unit of mass takes up. For this calculator, the values update automatically when temperature, pressure, material, or unit system changes.

The unit system selector is the key control for the whole tool. Imperial is the default setting. In Imperial mode, temperature is shown in °F, pressure in psi, density in lb/ft³, and specific volume in ft³/lb. In Metric mode, temperature is shown in °C, pressure is shown in MPa, density is shown in kg/m³, and specific volume is shown in m³/kg.

How to use it step by step

1. Choose a unit system. Imperial is already selected by default.
2. Select the material from the drop-down list.
3. Enter the temperature.
4. Enter the pressure.
5. Read the density and specific volume in the table at the top.
6. Check the 2 graphs below for a visual view of how density changes with temperature and pressure.

The calculator is built to stay simple. There is no need to type extra settings or switch between separate screens. The controls work together, so the display always matches the selected unit system.

What each control does

The unit system selector changes the entire display. It is not just a label swap. It changes the input values, the output values, the graph axes, and the units in the result table. That makes it easier to stay in one familiar system while comparing materials.

The material selector chooses the rock or mineral being studied. Each material has its own base density and its own response to temperature and pressure. Some are much lighter, like peat and coke. Some are much denser, like hematite, magnetite, and pyrite. That is why one material can look very different from another even when the same temperature and pressure are entered.

Temperature changes the result in a predictable way. Pressure changes it too. The graphs make that effect easy to see without needing a separate formula sheet.

Simple formulas used by the calculator

The calculator follows a straightforward idea: density changes with temperature and pressure, and specific volume is the inverse of density. The formulas below are written in plain text, without special notation.

Density at temperature:

rhoT = rho20 / (1 + alphaT × (T – 20))

Density adjusted for pressure:

rho = rhoT × (1 + (P – 0.1) / bulkModulus)

Specific volume:

v = 1 / rho

In simple terms, the calculator starts with the material’s reference density at 20°C and then adjusts it for the entered temperature and pressure. That is enough for quick reference work, side-by-side comparison, and basic planning.

Material reference table

This table gives a fast overview of the available materials in the calculator. The exact values in the app may shift slightly with temperature and pressure, but the base density gives a good starting point for comparison. Lower density materials sit near the top of the list. Denser rocks and ore materials sit near the bottom of the lightest section and well above the common stone group.

Material	Base density at 20°C	Common type	Quick note
Peat	300 kg/m³	Organic material	Very light, highly compressible, useful as a low-density reference
Coke	1100 kg/m³	Carbon-rich solid	Lighter than most rock, useful in industrial comparisons
Coal	1350 kg/m³	Sedimentary fuel	Often used as a mid-low density example
Tuff	1800 kg/m³	Volcanic rock	Light rock with porous structure in many cases
Sylvinite	2050 kg/m³	Potash ore	Common in evaporite and mining discussions
Sulfur	2070 kg/m³	Native element	Light mineral with a distinct industrial role
Chalk	2100 kg/m³	Sedimentary rock	Soft, light, and easy to recognize in comparison charts
Salt	2160 kg/m³	Evaporite mineral	Classic comparison material for rock salt deposits
Rock Salt	2160 kg/m³	Evaporite rock	Very close to salt, often used in geology and mining references
Sandstone	2200 kg/m³	Sedimentary rock	Common building and reservoir rock
Gypsum	2300 kg/m³	Mineral	Soft and relatively light for a mineral
Limestone	2400 kg/m³	Sedimentary rock	Wide use in construction, geology, and processing
Marble	2700 kg/m³	Metamorphic rock	Dense, polished stone with familiar everyday applications
Granite	2700 kg/m³	Igneous rock	Strong, common, and easy to compare with marble
Slate	2750 kg/m³	Metamorphic rock	Often used as a solid mid-range reference point
Gneiss	2800 kg/m³	Metamorphic rock	Denser than many common stones
Dolomite	2850 kg/m³	Mineral and rock	Useful in carbonate comparisons
Basalt	2950 kg/m³	Igneous rock	Dense volcanic rock with strong mass per volume
Phosphorite	3000 kg/m³	Sedimentary rock	Important in fertilizer and mining contexts
Apatite	3200 kg/m³	Mineral	Denser phosphate mineral with clear industrial value
Claystone	2500 kg/m³	Sedimentary rock	Fine-grained rock with moderate density
Quartz	2650 kg/m³	Mineral	One of the most familiar hard minerals
Kaolin	2600 kg/m³	Clay mineral	Useful in ceramic and industrial material contexts
Bauxite	2500 kg/m³	Ore	Standard aluminum ore reference
Obsidian	2400 kg/m³	Volcanic glass	Dense, glassy, and visually distinct
Pyrite	5050 kg/m³	Sulfide mineral	Heavy mineral often known as fool’s gold
Magnetite	5150 kg/m³	Iron oxide	Very dense and strongly magnetic
Hematite	5200 kg/m³	Iron oxide	One of the densest common ore minerals in the list
Iron Ore	4500 kg/m³	Ore	Broad reference for iron-rich material
Schist	2700 kg/m³	Metamorphic rock	Layered rock that fits neatly in the mid-range group

Quick comparison table in Imperial units

Since Imperial is the default mode, it helps to keep a practical comparison table close by. The values below are approximate Imperial equivalents based on the calculator’s base densities. They are useful for a quick mental picture before drilling into a specific sample.

Material	Approx. density	Approx. specific volume	Simple take
Peat	18.73 lb/ft³	0.0534 ft³/lb	Very light and bulky
Coke	68.67 lb/ft³	0.0146 ft³/lb	Lighter industrial solid
Coal	84.35 lb/ft³	0.0119 ft³/lb	Common low-density benchmark
Tuff	112.37 lb/ft³	0.0089 ft³/lb	Light volcanic rock
Sandstone	137.34 lb/ft³	0.0073 ft³/lb	Middle of the pack
Gypsum	143.90 lb/ft³	0.0069 ft³/lb	Moderately light mineral
Limestone	149.83 lb/ft³	0.0067 ft³/lb	Standard construction stone
Quartz	165.12 lb/ft³	0.0061 ft³/lb	Firm and compact
Granite	168.55 lb/ft³	0.0059 ft³/lb	Strong everyday reference
Basalt	183.86 lb/ft³	0.0054 ft³/lb	Heavier volcanic rock
Marble	168.55 lb/ft³	0.0059 ft³/lb	Matches granite closely in base density
Dolomite	177.97 lb/ft³	0.0056 ft³/lb	Dense carbonate material
Iron Ore	280.95 lb/ft³	0.0036 ft³/lb	Much heavier than common stone
Magnetite	321.26 lb/ft³	0.0031 ft³/lb	Very dense mineral
Hematite	324.37 lb/ft³	0.0031 ft³/lb	Heavy reference for ore comparisons
Pyrite	315.11 lb/ft³	0.0032 ft³/lb	Heavy sulfide mineral
Apatite	199.77 lb/ft³	0.0050 ft³/lb	Denser than many common stones
Obsidian	149.83 lb/ft³	0.0067 ft³/lb	Similar base density to limestone
Rock Salt	134.09 lb/ft³	0.0075 ft³/lb	Useful salt dome comparison
Sylvinite	127.84 lb/ft³	0.0078 ft³/lb	Low-to-mid density evaporite ore

A simple example using Imperial numbers

A quick example makes the calculator easier to read. Suppose the selected material is granite. The unit system stays on Imperial. The temperature is 68°F. The pressure is 14.5 psi. Those are the default-style values that make sense for a basic room-condition check.

Here is the practical reading: 68°F is the same as 20°C. 14.5 psi is close to 0.1 MPa. At those conditions, granite stays close to its base value. The calculator shows density around 168.55 lb/ft³ and specific volume around 0.0059 ft³/lb.

That means 1 ft³ of granite weighs about 168.55 lb under the shown reference conditions. The reverse reading says 1 lb of granite occupies about 0.0059 ft³. That is the kind of number people can use right away when comparing material loads, storage volume, or rough mass estimates.

Step	Input	What the calculator does	Result
1	Material = Granite	Loads granite reference values	Base density 2700 kg/m³
2	Unit system = Imperial	Switches all display units	°F, psi, lb/ft³, ft³/lb
3	Temperature = 68°F	Converts to 20°C for calculation	Stable reference temperature
4	Pressure = 14.5 psi	Converts to 0.1 MPa for calculation	Low reference pressure
5	Read density	Shows density in Imperial form	About 168.55 lb/ft³
6	Read specific volume	Shows inverse value	About 0.0059 ft³/lb
7	Check the graphs	Shows how the value shifts	Live trend lines update instantly

How to read density without getting lost

Density is not complicated when it is treated as a practical number. Higher density means more mass in the same space. Lower density means less mass in the same space. That is why the chart can be useful at a glance. A heavy ore will sit much higher than peat or coke. A mid-range rock like limestone will land in the middle. Granite, basalt, and marble will sit in the tougher, denser range.

Specific volume works the opposite way. A bigger specific volume means the material takes up more space for each unit of mass. A smaller specific volume means the material is more compact. This is a useful way to think about storage, transport, and general material handling.

Why temperature and pressure matter

Temperature and pressure are not just extra settings. They explain why the same material can behave a little differently depending on the situation. A warmer material often becomes slightly less dense. A higher pressure usually pushes density upward. The calculator keeps that idea easy to follow without making the screen feel crowded.

The graphs below the result table help with fast visual checking. The first graph shows density against temperature at the current pressure. The second shows density against pressure at the current temperature. That makes trends easier to spot than reading numbers alone.

How to use the graphs

The graphs are there to answer 3 common questions: does density rise or fall as temperature changes, does pressure have a noticeable effect, and where does the current value sit compared with the rest of the range?

The red dot marks the exact current value. The blue curve shows the overall trend. If the dot is near the higher end of the line, the material is denser at those conditions. If the dot is near the lower end, the material is lighter at those conditions.

The graph titles also follow the selected unit system. In Imperial mode, the labels switch to °F, psi, and lb/ft³. In Metric mode, they switch to °C, MPa, and kg/m³. That keeps the whole interface aligned and easy to trust at a glance.

Practical reading tips

Start with the material. That is the most important choice because each material has its own baseline behavior. Then check the unit system. Imperial users can stay in familiar numbers without doing mental conversion every time. Metric users can stay in standard scientific and engineering units.

For quick comparison work, it helps to focus on the top number first. Density gives the main answer. Specific volume gives the reverse answer. The graphs then show whether the entered temperature and pressure are pushing the value up or down.

When comparing 2 materials, keep the same unit system and the same conditions. That makes the results easier to compare fairly. A rock that looks close in one unit system will still be close in the other, but staying consistent saves time and avoids confusion.

Material groups that are easy to compare

Some materials in the calculator naturally sit in the same range. These groupings are useful when comparing values quickly. They are not exact scientific categories. They are just a practical way to think about the list.

Group	Materials	What stands out	Typical use in comparison
Very light materials	Peat, Coke, Coal	Low density and high specific volume	Good starting point for low-mass references
Light rocks	Tuff, Sandstone, Gypsum, Chalk	Below the common stone middle	Useful for sedimentary and porous materials
Middle-range stones	Limestone, Marble, Granite, Quartz, Dolomite, Slate, Gneiss, Schist	Everyday rock values with familiar behavior	Good for building stone and geology comparisons
Heavy rocks and ores	Iron Ore, Hematite, Magnetite, Pyrite	Much heavier than ordinary stone	Best for ore studies and dense material checks
Evaporites and salts	Salt, Rock Salt, Sylvinite	Lower density than most hard rocks	Useful in mining and salt deposit discussions
Industrial minerals	Kaolin, Bauxite, Apatite, Phosphorite	Important in processing and raw material work	Helpful for material selection and refining
Volcanic materials	Basalt, Obsidian, Tuff	Wide spread from light to dense	Good for igneous rock comparison

Common use cases

This calculator fits well in a lot of practical situations. It can be used as a reference table, a comparison tool, or a quick estimate aid. A mining student may use it to compare ore types. A builder may use it to compare stone weight. A materials worker may use it to get a fast read on how one substance stacks up against another.

It is also handy for readers who just want one place where everything is already organized. There is no need to search across separate charts for units, formulas, and values. The calculator keeps the core data visible without extra clutter.

What makes this tool easy to use

First, it starts in Imperial mode, which is familiar to many everyday users in the United States. Second, it updates in real time. Third, it keeps the display simple enough that the main values are easy to spot. Fourth, it shows 2 graphs that explain the result visually instead of relying on numbers alone.

The layout is compact, but the content is complete. That makes it a good fit for a quick desktop or mobile lookup. The top table shows the answer. The control area lets the user change conditions. The charts show the trend. Everything stays in one place.

Reading the result without overthinking it

A good way to use the calculator is to think in 3 layers. The first layer is the material. The second layer is the condition. The third layer is the result. That simple structure makes the output easy to use even if the subject is unfamiliar.

Example: choose basalt, keep Imperial mode, enter 68°F and 14.5 psi, then read the density and specific volume. The answer is fast and direct. After that, the graphs help show whether the number is moving up or down across the range.

Formulas in plain language

Density starts from the base value at 20°C. Then temperature nudges the value a little. Pressure nudges it too. The calculator combines those changes into 1 practical number.

Specific volume is simpler still. It is just 1 divided by density. That makes it a mirror image of density. High density means low specific volume. Low density means high specific volume.

Another easy way to remember it: density answers “how heavy per volume?” specific volume answers “how much volume per weight?”

Mini reference: where the numbers usually land

Range	Approx. density in lb/ft³	What usually fits here	Reading tip
Below 25	Very light range	Peat, very porous material	Expect high specific volume
25 to 80	Light range	Coke, some low-density solids	Often easier to move and store
80 to 150	Light to middle range	Coal, tuff, sandstone, gypsum, limestone	Very common rock comparison zone
150 to 200	Middle range	Granite, marble, dolomite, quartz, basalt	Standard hard rock territory
200 to 260	Heavy middle range	Apatite, iron-rich rocks	Good for stronger materials
260 and above	Heavy range	Pyrite, magnetite, hematite, iron ore	Dense and compact materials

Pick Imperial if the goal is °F, psi, lb/ft³, and ft³/lb. Pick Metric if the goal is °C, MPa, kg/m³, and m³/kg. Choose the material. Set temperature. Set pressure. Read the answer. Check the graph if the trend matters.

Literature

1. Deer, W. A., Howie, R. A., and Zussman, J. An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals.
2. Klein, C., and Dutrow, B. Manual of Mineral Science.
3. Press, F., and Siever, R. Earth.
4. Speight, J. G. The Chemistry and Technology of Petroleum, 5th edition.
5. USGS Mineral Resources Program, general reference materials and mineral data sheets.
6. Callister, W. D. Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction.
7. Craig, J. R., Vaughan, D. J., and Skinner, B. J. Resources of the Earth.