igneous

Granite

Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Phaneritic (visible crystals) mix of white/clear (quartz), pink/cream (feldspar), and black (mica/amphibole). Luster: Vitreous to dull. Structure: Massive, interlocking granular texture.

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

Identified March 18, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). Geological age varies globally from Archean eon to Cenozoic era. Found in continental crust, specifically within batholiths and mountain ranges.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, and memorial monuments due to its durability and resistance to weathering.

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large part of the continental crust. The word comes from the Latin 'granum', meaning a grain, in reference to its coarse-grained structure. It is the signature rock of the continents, as it is rarely found on the ocean floor.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible, interlocking mineral grains that cannot be scratched easily by a steel knife. Commonly found in glaciated regions as 'erratics' or in mountain cores. Collectors look for unique mineral inclusions or pegmatitic textures (very large crystals).

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