The　fracture　characteristics　of　rock　materials　are　significantly　influenced　by　lithology　and　loading　rate.　This　study　examines　the　loading　rate-dependence　of　fracture　behavior　in　granite,　marble,　and　sandstone　using　three-point　bending　tests　conducted　at　rates　ranging　from　0.0002　mm/s　to　0.002　mm/s.　Real–time　acoustic　emission　(AE)　detection　was　integrated　with　digital　image　correlation　(DIC)　to　capture　full–field　strains　and　track　crack　initiation　and　propagation　during　loading.　Results　indicate　that　fracture　toughness　increases　markedly　with　loading　rate,　with　granite　showing　the　highest　sensitivity　(20.2　%　increase),　followed　by　marble　(17.1　%)　and　sandstone　(12.8　%).　Analysis　of　fracture　surfaces　reveals　a　systematic　decrease　in　the　Joint　Roughness　Coefficient　with　increasing　loading　rate.　AE　and　DIC　analyses　demonstrate　that　lower　loading　rates　favor　intergranular　fracturing　dominated　by　tensile　cracks,　while　higher　loading　rates　promote　transgranular　fracturing,　especially　in　crystalline　rocks,　leading　to　higher-energy　acoustic　events　and　longer　but　narrower　fracture　process　zones　(FPZs).　Lithology　significantly　affects　both　absolute　fracture　properties　and　sensitivity　to　loading　rate　effects,　with　crystalline　rocks　exhibiting　greater　rate　dependency　than　sedimentary　rocks.　These　findings　offer　valuable　insights　for　understanding　loading　rate　effects　in　rock　engineering　applications.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd