igneous

Granite

Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Salt and pepper (white, gray, and black). Luster: Dull to vitreous. Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained). Composition: Quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase feldspar with minor mica or amphibole minerals.

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

Identified May 25, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. It is a plutonic rock found in continental crust, often dating from the Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base.

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large part of the continental crust. Because it is so hard and resistant to erosion, it often forms the core of many mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada in California.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible interlocking crystals of different colors. It is commonly found in mountainous regions or areas where ancient bedrock has been exposed by erosion.

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