igneous
Granite
Granite (composed primarily of Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Mottled white, pink, gray, or tan with dark minerals; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Mottled white, pink, gray, or tan with dark minerals
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Mottled white, pink, gray, or tan with dark minerals; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. It is a plutonic rock typical of continental crust, often dating back hundreds of millions to billions of years.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction, kitchen countertops, tiling, monuments, and as crushed stone for road aggregate.
Geological facts
Granite is one of the hardest and most common rocks on Earth. The base of the Statue of Liberty is made from granite, and it is the signature rock of the continental crust.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking 'salt and pepper' crystalline texture and extreme hardness. Commonly found in mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada or through granite quarries worldwide.
