igneous
Granite
Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: typically white, pink, or gray with darker grains; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Non-existent in the rock mass but individual minerals like mica have perfect cleavage.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- typically white, pink, or gray with darker grains
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: typically white, pink, or gray with darker grains; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Non-existent in the rock mass but individual minerals like mica have perfect cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below the Earth's surface (intrusive). Most granites are associated with mountain-building periods from the Precambrian to the Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, monuments, and as crushed stone for road aggregate.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore is carved into a massive granite batholith in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica. It is found in large mountain ranges and shield areas globally, such as the Appalachians or the Scottish Highlands.
