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Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology
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Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology; 2007; v. 40; issue.1; p. 105-112;
DOI: 10.1144/1470-9236/06-007
© 2007 Geological Society of London

Technical Note

A guide to the use of volcaniclastic nomenclature in engineering investigations

D.J. Brown

1 Department of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Gregory Building, Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
2 Current address: Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Sheffield, Kroto Research Institute, Broad Lane, Sheffield, S3 7HQ, UK (e-mail: d.j.brown@sheffield.ac.uk)

Current good practice in geology is to identify volcaniclastic rocks using a descriptive classification scheme. The terms agglomerate, volcanic breccia and tuff are currently used in both a descriptive and genetic sense, in BS 5930 (1999). However, the definitions used are now considered incorrect in both senses. This technical contribution redefines these terms and places them in a modern geological context. A new descriptive classification scheme for identifying and naming volcaniclastic rocks is proposed that will assist engineering geological descriptions of these rock types.