igneous

Granite

Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Salt and pepper (white, gray, black); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (medium to coarse-grained); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific gravity: 2.63-2.75

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs
Color: Salt and pepper (white, gray, black)
Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified May 19, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Salt and pepper (white, gray, black); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (medium to coarse-grained); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific gravity: 2.63-2.75

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow cooling and crystallization of magma deep underground (intrusive). They can be hundreds of millions to billions of years old, often found in continental crustal interiors and mountain ranges.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, monuments, and as crushed stone or aggregate for roads.

Geological facts

Granite is one of the hardest and most durable substances on Earth, which is why it has been used in ancient Egyptian pyramids and modern skyscrapers alike. It identifies the continental crust.

Field identification & locations

Look for a coarse-grained texture where individual crystals of quartz (clear/gray), feldspar (white/pink), and mica (black/shiny) are visible to the naked eye. Found in batholiths and shield areas.

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