igneous

Granite

Granite (Phaneritic Quartz-Feldspar rock)

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Gray, salt-and-pepper, white; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (visible interlocking crystals); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs
Color: Gray, salt-and-pepper, white
Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified May 26, 2026More igneous →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Gray, salt-and-pepper, white; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (visible interlocking crystals); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow subterranean cooling of silicic magma. These plutonic rocks often date back hundreds of millions to billions of years, cooling deep within the Earth's crust before being uplifted and exposed by erosion.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, and as aggregate. It is also a popular material for monuments and outdoor sculptures due to its durability.

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large portion of the continental crust. The name comes from the Latin 'granum', meaning a grain, in reference to its coarse-grained structure. It is one of the hardest and most resistant rocks available naturally.

Field identification & locations

Identify by looking for visible crystals of quartz (glassy gray), feldspar (opaque white/pink), and mica (black flecks). It is found globally in mountain ranges and continental shields. Collectors should look for large crystal size or unusual mineral inclusions.

Other igneous specimens

See all

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