igneous
Granite
Granite (Phaneritic Quartz-Feldspar-Mica rock)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, gray, white, and black mottled; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarsegrained, visible crystals); Cleavage: No true cleavage but individual minerals inside have their own.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pink, gray, white, and black mottled
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, gray, white, and black mottled; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarsegrained, visible crystals); Cleavage: No true cleavage but individual minerals inside have their own.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). Most granite was formed during the Precambrian to Paleozoic eras in continental crust environments.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, countertops, monuments, paving stones, and as crushed stone for road aggregate. Also used in curling stones.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. It is the signature rock of the continents and is much less dense than the basalt that makes up the ocean floor.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its interlocking visible crystals of pink/white feldspar and translucent gray quartz. Found worldwide in mountainous regions and exposed shields like the Canadian Shield.
