igneous

Granite

Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Mottled grey, white, and pinkish-brown with visible crystals. Luster: Dull to vitreous. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained). Cleavage: Varies by internal mineral; specific gravity is approx 2.63 to 2.75.

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: Mottled grey, white, and pinkish-brown with visible crystals
Luster: Dull to vitreous

Identified March 26, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). The coarseness indicates it spent a long time cooling in the crust. Found in continental crust ranging from Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.

Uses & applications

Major use in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, and monuments. Also used as crushed stone for road base and railroad ballast.

Geological facts

Granite makes up the core of most mountain ranges. Mount Rushmore is carved into a granite batholith. It is one of the hardest and most durable common stones, making it the preferred material for kitchen surfaces.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its 'salt and pepper' look and interlocked visible crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica. Commonly found in outcroppings in mountainous regions or glacial till. Does not fizz with acid.

Other igneous specimens

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Blue Apatite

Fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F)

mineral

Dark Igneous Rock (Likely Basalt or Diabase)

Basalt (extrusive igneous rock) or Diabase (intrusive igneous rock - also known as Dolerite), largely composed of plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene (augite), and sometimes olivine and amphibole. Exact mineralogy would require thin section analysis.

Igneous