igneous

Granite

Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock (primarily Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Salt-and-pepper (white, gray, black); Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained visible crystals); Cleavage: No overall cleavage (though individual feldspar grains exhibit it); Specific Gravity: 2.63 to 2.75

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: Salt-and-pepper (white, gray, black)
Luster: Dull to vitreous

Identified March 21, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). Geological age spans from the Archean Eon to the Cenozoic, commonly found in continental crust and mountain ranges.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, and monuments due to its durability and aesthetic appeal. Also used as crushed stone for road base and railroad ballast.

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore is carved into a granite batholith, and it is one of the hardest natural substances used in commercial construction.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its 'salt and pepper' appearance and large, interlocking mineral grains. Look for translucent quartz, opaque white/pink feldspar, and dark flakes of mica or hornblende. Commonly found in batholiths and mountain cores.

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

Magnetite

Iron(II,III) oxide (Fe3O4)

mineral

Sodalite

Sodalite - Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2

mineral

Blue Apatite

Apatite (Group), Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)

mineral

Magnetite

Magnetite (Fe3O4)

mineral