The terms hardrock and softrock are a part of the jargon used in referring to the particular geological setting in which a geologist works. Specialists in metalliferous mineral deposits or in igneous and metamorphic petrology (q.v. in Vol. V) may be called hardrock geologists, while those engaged in exploration for oil, natural gas, or coal and others who work mostly in sedimentary rock terranes are likely to be called softrock geologists. A miner taking ore from a quartz vein may be called a hardrock miner, and one who mines bituminous coal or gypsum a softrock miner. These arbitrary labels are based on the premise that igneous and metamorphic (crystalline) rocks—granite and gneiss, e.g.—are harder than sedimentary rocks, such as limestone and shale. This is true in general, but the distinction is specious when applied to some rocks. Calcite in limestone is quite as hard as that in marble, and the grains of quartz in sandstone are as hard as those in quartzite. Moreover, the quartz...
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© 1988 Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc.
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Hall, R.B. (1988). Hardrock versus softrock geology . In: General Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30844-X_55
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30844-X_55
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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