If you can identify the density of a particular stone using various references, you can then use that data to calculate the weight of the stone via the stone’s volume:
Weight = Volume x Density
Note: From a scientific perspective, Density x Volume gives you an object’s Mass. However, since the strength of gravity is held fairly constant (as it is all over Earth), then generally speaking an object’s mass is directly proportional to the object’s weight. So, I will be using “Weight” instead of “Mass.” When you’re talking about huge megaliths, the difference in mass vs. weight of that huge stone over a difference of a few hundred feet of sea level is minutely insignificant. Therefore, Mass = Weight for all intensive purposes.
Abbreviations used on this page:
- Weight:
- oz = ounce
- lb = pound
- ton = US ton
- g = gram
- kg = kilogram
- tonne = Metric tonne
- Length:
- in = inch
- ft = foot/feet
- yd = yard
- mi = mile
- mm = millimeter
- cm = centimeter
- m = meter
- km = kilometer
- Area:
- sq-in = square inch
- sq-ft = square foot
- sq-yd = square yard
- sq-mm = square millimeter
- sq-cm = square centimeter
- sq-m = square meter
- Volume:
- cu-in = cubic inch
- cu-ft = cubic foot
- cu-yd = cubic yard
- cu-mm = cubic millmeter
- cu-cm = cubic centimeter
- cu-m = cubic meter
Volume
Volume is very straightforward:
Volume = Length x Width x Height
It can be computed and specified in both Metric (cubic-centimeters, cubic-meters, etc.) and US Customary (cubic-inches, cubic-feet, etc.).
Example: A stone block that measures 10-feet long, 3-feet wide, and 4-feet tall = 10 x 3 x 4 = 120 cubic-feet
Stone Densities
Density is weight per unit of volume.
The density data was derived from numerous online sources, and generally specify building- and sculpting-grade densities (not soft porous variations, such as you find in Limestone).
| Stone | US Density (lb/cu-ft) | Metric Density (g/cu-cm OR tonnes/cu-m) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabaster/Calcite = | 137 - 144 | 2.2 - 2.3 |
| Gypsum = | 137 - 175 | 2.2 - 2.8 |
| Sandstone = | 137 - 175 | 2.2 - 2.8 |
| Limestone = | 144 - 181 | 2.3 - 2.9 |
| Marble = | 150 - 169 | 2.4 - 2.7 |
| Rhyolite = | 150 - 169 | 2.4 - 2.7 |
| Porphyry = | 156 - 162 | 2.5 - 2.6 |
| Mica Schist = | 156 - 181 | 2.5 - 2.9 |
| Andesite = | 156 - 181 | 2.5 - 2.9 |
| Dolomite = | 156 - 181 | 2.5 - 2.9 |
| Quartzite = | 162 - 175 | 2.6 - 2.8 |
| Syenite = | 162 - 181 | 2.6 - 2.9 |
| Granite = | 162 - 187 | 2.6 - 3.0 |
| Gneiss = | 162 - 187 | 2.6 - 3.0 |
| Diabase/Dolerite = | 162 - 196 | 2.6 - 3.1 |
| Diorite = | 169 - 187 | 2.7 - 3.0 |
| Gabbro = | 169 - 206 | 2.7 - 3.3 |
| Basalt = | 169 - 206 | 2.7 - 3.3 |
Therefore, with the above two tables, you can calculate a megalithic stone’s weight simply by multiplying the Volume of the stone by that stone’s Density.
Weight = Volume x Density
----- Misc Conversion Tables -----
In the event you have a need to convert a basic unit of measure from Metric to US Customary or vice versa, you can use the conversion tables below . . . .
[By the way, it’s extremely easy to simply search the web for the conversions you need and let it do your work. However, from a personal improvement standpoint it helps your intellectual growth and overall sharpness if you learn to calculate it yourself. There’s no need to dumb-down the civilization any further than it’s already slipped.]
1) First, simply locate the table for the unit of measure you know [Length, Area, Volume, Weight, Density].
2) Choose the table that contains the international standard of measure in the upper left corner that you know [US or Metric].
3) Look down the left-hand column of that table for the specific unit you know.
4) Then look across to see the equivalent units measure.
5) Use the number to multiply with the number of units you know to result in the equivalent converted units.
For example . . . .
If you know you have 200 feet and want to know how many meters:
1) You have “feet” as a measurement so you need the Length conversion tables
2) Choose the US table under length (since the unit of measure you know is feet = US)
3) You know you have some quantity of feet so go down to the line that shows “1 ft.”
4) 1 ft. = 0.3048 meters (m), so . . .
5) We know we have 200 ft, so . . . . 200 x 0.3048 m = 60.96 meters
Length
| US | mm | cm | m | km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 inch = | 25.4 | 2.54 | 0.0254 | 0.00002540 |
| 1 foot = | 304.8 | 30.48 | 0.3048 | 0.0003048 |
| 1 yard = | 914.4 | 91.44 | 0.9144 | 0.0009144 |
| 1 mile = | 1,609,934 | 160,934 | 1,609.344 | 1.609 |
| Metric | inch | foot | yard | mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mm = | 0.03937 | 0.003281 | 0.001094 | (insignificant) |
| 1 cm = | 0.3937 | 0.03281 | 0.01094 | (insignificant) |
| 1 m = | 39.37 | 3.281 | 1.094 | 0.0006214 |
| 1 km = | 39,370 | 3280.8 | 1093.6 | 0.6214 |
Area
| US | Square mm | Square cm | Square m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Square inch = | 645.2 | 6.452 | 0.000645 |
| 1 Square foot = | 92,903.04 | 929.03 | 0.0929 |
| 1 Square yard = | 836,127.36 | 8,361.274 | 0.836 |
| Metric | Square inches | Square feet | Square yard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Square mm = | 0.00155 | (insignificant) | (insignificant) |
| 1 Square cm = | 0.155 | 0.00108 | 0.00012 |
| 1 Square m = | 1,550.003 | 10.764 | 1.196 |
Volume
| US | Cubic mm | Cubic cm | Cubic m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Cubic inch = | 16,387.1 | 16.387 | 0.00001639 |
| 1 Cubic foot = | 28,316,846.6 | 28,316.847 | 0.0283 |
| 1 Cubic yard = | 764,554,858 | 764,554.858 | 0.765 |
| Metric | Cubic inches | Cubic feet | Cubic yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Cubic mm = | 0.00006102 | (insignificant) | (insignificant) |
| 1 Cubic cm = | 0.061 | 0.00003531 | (insignificant) |
| 1 Cubic m = | 61,023.744 | 35.315 | 1.308 |
Weight
Note: Throughout this website I will not be referring to the “Long Ton” of British origin. I will only use Metric Ton (designated herein as “tonne”) and US Short Ton (designated herein as “ton”).
| US | grams | kilograms | tonne |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ounce (oz) = | 28.3495 | 0.0283495 | 0.00002835 |
| 1 pound (lb) = | 453.592 | 0.453592 | 0.000454 |
| 1 ton (aka 1 short ton = 2000 lbs) = | 907,184.74 | 907.18474 | 0.907185 |
| Metric | ounces | pounds | short ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gram = | 0.035274 | 0.002205 | (insignificant) |
| 1 kilogram = | 35.274 | 2.20462 | 0.0011 |
| 1 tonne (aka 1 metric ton = 1000 kg ) = | 35,273.962 | 2,204.623 | 1.10231 |
Density
| US | g/cubic-centimeter | g/cubic-meter | kg/cubic-meter | tonne/cubic-meter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pounds per cubic foot = | 0.01601846 | 16,018.4634 | 16.0184634 | 0.01601846 |
| 1 pounds per cubic yard = | 0.0005933 | 593.27642 | 0.593276 | 0.0005933 |
| 1 ton per cubic foot = | 32.036927 | 32,036,926.75 | 32,036.93 | 32.036927 |
| 1 ton per cubic yard = | 1.1865528 | 1186552.8425 | 1186.55 | 1.1865528 |
| Metric | lbs/cubic-foot | lbs/cubic-yard | tons/cubic-foot | tons/cubic-yard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gram per cubic centimeter = | 62.428 | 1685.55 | 0.031214 | 0.842777 |
| 1 gram per cubic meter = | 0.000062428 | 0.00168555 | (insignificant) | (insignificant) |
| 1 kilogram per cubic meter = | 0.062428 | 1.68555 | 0.000031214 | 0.000842777 |
| 1 tonne per cubic meter (1000 kg/cubic-meter) = | 62.428 | 1685.55 | 0.031214 | 0.842777 |
Some online resources:
- Densities of Common Rocks and Minerals (https://www.thoughtco.com/densities-of-common-rocks-and-minerals-1439119)
- Densities of Rocks Calculated From Their Chemical Analyses (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1076683/pdf/pnas01764-0027.pdf)
- JustInTools Density Conversion (https://www.justintools.com/unit-conversion/density.php?k1=tonnes-per-cubic-meter&k2=pounds-per-cubic-foot)
- National Park Service – Calculating the Weight of Stone (https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/calculating-the-weight-of-stone.htm)
- Stone Weight Calculator (https://stoneyard.com/calculators/stone-slab-weight/)
