igneous
Granite
Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock
Hardness (Mohs scale): 6 to 7; Color: Salt and pepper (white, gray, black, pink); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained visible crystals); Cleavage: None (though constituent minerals like mica and feldspar have it); Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75
- Color
- Salt and pepper (white, gray, black, pink)
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Hardness (Mohs scale): 6 to 7; Color: Salt and pepper (white, gray, black, pink); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained visible crystals); Cleavage: None (though constituent minerals like mica and feldspar have it); Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below the Earth's surface (intrusive). They can be found in mountain belts and continental crust spanning billions of years to the present day.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stone, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore is carved into a granite batholith in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its speckled appearance and interlocking coarse crystals of quartz and feldspar. It is commonly found in the cores of mountain ranges and shield areas of continents.
