igneous

Granite

Phaneritic plutonic rock (dominated by Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Mottled pink, white, and grey. Luster: Dull to vitreous. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (visible crystals). Cleavage: None (fractures irregularly). Specific gravity: 2.63 to 2.75.

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: Mottled pink, white, and grey
Luster: Dull to vitreous

Identified May 12, 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 by the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface in plutonic environments. Most granite formations date back to the Precambrian or Paleozoic eras.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stone, curbing, and as a decorative stone in monuments. High value as an industrial building material.

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. It is one of the hardest and most durable natural stones, which is why it has been used since ancient Egypt for obelisks and pyramids.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible interlocking crystals. Commonly found in mountainous regions or where glacial activity has deposited 'erratics.'

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

Sodalite

Sodalite - Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2

mineral

Blue Apatite

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

mineral

Magnetite

Magnetite (Fe3O4)

mineral