igneous

Granite

Granite (Phaneritic Igneous Rock)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: typically white, gray, or pink with black specks; Luster: dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: phaneritic (coarse-grained); Composition: Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica/Amphibole.

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: typically white, gray, or pink with black specks
Luster: dull to vitreous

Identified May 15, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow cooling and crystallization of magma deep beneath the Earth's surface (plutonic). It can form over millions of years and is found in the continental crust.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base.

Geological facts

Granite is the most common rock found in the Earth's continental crust. It is so durable that the Great Pyramid of Giza contains huge blocks of it, and Mount Rushmore is carved directly into a granite batholith.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible interlocking crystals. It is ubiquitous in mountainous regions and continental shields like the Canadian Shield.

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