igneous
Granite
Granite (High-silica plutonic rock)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, white, gray, and black speckled appearance; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific gravity: 2.65-2.75 g/cm3.
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Pink, white, gray, and black speckled appearance
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, white, gray, and black speckled appearance; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific gravity: 2.65-2.75 g/cm3.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. It is a coarse-grained intrusive rock that can be billions of years old, typically found in continental crust and mountain ranges.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction (countertops, flooring, paving stones), monuments, and as crushed stone for road base and railroad ballast.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust and is unique to Earth among all planets in our solar system. The famous peaks in Yosemite National Park are largely composed of granite.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking 'salt and pepper' appearance of quartz, feldspar, and mica. It is found in mountain cores worldwide. Collectors look for large crystal variations (pegmatites).
