Granite

Physical Properties

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pinkish-tan with white and grey specks; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific gravity: 2.63-2.75

Formation & Geological History

Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below the Earth's surface in continental crust environments. Granite is found in large plutons or batholiths and can date from the Archean to the Cenozoic.

Uses & Applications

Construction material, kitchen countertops, monument stone, road aggregate, and used in building facades.

Geological Facts

Granite is the most common igneous rock found on Earth's continents and makes up the core of many mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada and the Himalayas.

Field Identification & Locations

Identify by its coarse grains and interlocking crystals of pink feldspar and grey quartz. It is extremely common in areas with exposed continental bedrock.

Identified on: 4/17/2026

Mode: Standard