igneous
Granite
Intrusive igneous rock (SiO2 rich)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Mottled brown, grey, and pink; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Mottled brown, grey, and pink
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Mottled brown, grey, and pink; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. These rocks are found in plutons or batholiths and can be hundreds of millions to billions of years old.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, countertops, monuments, floor tiles, and as crushed stone for road base.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore is carved into a massive granite batholith in South Dakota.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking crystalline texture containing visible quartz, feldspar, and mica. Commonly found in mountainous regions or where ancient shields are exposed.
