igneous

Granite

Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray, salt-and-pepper (white k-feldspar, gray quartz, black biotite/hornblende); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarsegrained) granular; Cleavage: None (grains fracture)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified April 3, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). They belong to many geological ages, from the Archean to the Cenozoic, typically in continental crust mountain belts.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, monuments, and as crushed stone or aggregate for road building.

Geological facts

Granite is the most common igneous rock found on Earth's continental crust. El Capitan in Yosemite National Park is one of the world's most famous giant granite monoliths.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its interlocking 'salt and pepper' crystalline texture where minerals are large enough to see with the naked eye. Found in continental volcanic arcs and mountain roots. Common in various regions globally.

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