igneous

Granite

Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: typically mottled pink, white, gray, and black; Luster: vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: phaneritic (coarse-grained, visible crystals); Specific gravity: 2.63 to 2.75.

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: typically mottled pink, white, gray, and black
Luster: vitreous to dull

Identified March 16, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed by the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). Geological ages vary widely from the Archean to the Cenozoic, commonly found in continental crust within mountain belts and batholiths.

Uses & applications

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

Geological facts

Granite makes up the bulk of the Earth's continental crust. The Egyptian pyramids, such as the Red Pyramid and the chambers of the Great Pyramid, utilize massive granite blocks. It is one of the hardest and most durable natural stones available.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its coarse-grained 'salt and pepper' appearance and the presence of interlocking quartz, feldspar, and mica crystals. It is found globally in mountainous regions and shield areas like the Canadian Shield or the Appalachians.

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