igneous

Granite

Phaneritic Plutonic Igneous Rock (primarily composed of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase)

Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Grayish-white with salt-and-pepper flecks; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained crystals visible to the naked eye); Cleavage: No true cleavage in the rock, but component minerals like feldspar show it; Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75

Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Grayish-white with salt-and-pepper flecks
Luster: Dull to vitreous

Identified March 23, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. It is a felsic rock that forms the core of continental crust. Its geological age varies globally, spanning from hundreds of millions to billions of years old.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction (countertops, tiles, paving stones), monuments, curbing, and as crushed stone for road base and concrete aggregate.

Geological facts

Granite is the most common igneous rock found on Earth's continents. The iconic peaks of Yosemite National Park (like El Capitan) and the faces of Mount Rushmore are carved from granite. It is the signature rock of the continental plates, unlike the basalt of the ocean floor.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its interlocking, multi-colored crystalline texture. Look for translucent quartz, pink/white feldspar, and dark specks of mica or hornblende. Commonly found in mountainous regions or where glacial erosion has exposed the continental basement. It cannot be scratched by a steel knife.

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

Blue Apatite

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

mineral

Sodalite

Sodalite - Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2

mineral

Magnetite

Magnetite (Fe3O4)

mineral