igneous

Granite

Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Salt and pepper (white, gray, black, pink); Luster: Phaneritic (crystalline/sparkly); Structure: Granular/Massive; Cleavage: None (fractures irregularly); Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: Salt and pepper (white, gray, black, pink)
Luster: Phaneritic (crystalline/sparkly)

Identified May 22, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. Found in continental crust, often part of ancient mountain-building events (Orogeny) dating from the Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.

Uses & applications

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

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Famous landmarks like Mount Rushmore and the Egyptian Pyramids feature granite. It is one of the hardest and most durable natural stones available.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its 'salt and pepper' appearance with visible interlocking crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica. Found globally in plutons or batholiths. It does not react to acid like limestone.

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