igneous

Granite

Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray, salt-and-pepper appearance; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained, visible crystals); Cleavage: Varies by mineral constituent (feldspar has two directions); Specific Gravity: 2.63 to 2.75.

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: Gray, salt-and-pepper appearance
Luster: Dull to vitreous

Identified April 5, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). Geological age spans from the Archean Eon to the Cenozoic. It typically forms in continental crust above subduction zones.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stone, curbing, and monuments. Also used as crushed stone for road base and concrete aggregate.

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. El Capitan in Yosemite National Park is a famous massive granite monolith. It is one of the hardest natural stones available.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its interlocking 'salt and pepper' crystalline texture where minerals like quartz (clear/gray), feldspar (white/pink), and mica (black/shiny) are visible to the naked eye. Found in mountain ranges and shield areas worldwide.

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