igneous

Granite (with Almandine Garnet inclusions)

Granite composed primarily of Quartz (SiO2), K-Feldspar (KAlSi3O8), and Almandine Garnet (Fe3Al2(SiO4)3)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Creamy white to tan groundmass with dark red-brown garnet crystals; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific gravity: 2.6-2.8

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Luster: Vitreous to pearly

Identified March 7, 2026More igneous →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow subterranean cooling of silica-rich magma (plutonic). The presence of garnets suggests a high-pressure environment during crystallization or assimilation of aluminous metamorphic rock. Most granitic plutons range from 50 million to 2.5 billion years old.

Uses & applications

Predominantly used as dimension stone for kitchen countertops (like the background in the image), floor tiles, and outdoor monuments due to its durability and aesthetic appeal.

Geological facts

The red spots in this specimen are specifically Almandine Garnets. While common in metamorphic rocks, they appear in igneous granites when the magma is particularly rich in aluminum. Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by looking for a coarse multi-color speckled appearance where individual mineral grains can be seen with the naked eye. Often found in mountain ranges (batholiths). For collectors, look for well-defined dodecahedral garnet crystals protruding from the matrix.

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

Magnetite

Iron(II,III) oxide (Fe3O4)

mineral

Blue Apatite

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

mineral

Sodalite

Sodalite - Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2

mineral

Magnetite

Magnetite (Fe3O4)

mineral