igneous

Granite

Phaneritic Igneous Rock (Granite)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, white, and grey mottled; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Perfect in feldspar minerals; Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: Pink, white, and grey mottled
Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified April 11, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow crystallization of silica-rich magma below the Earth's surface over millions of years. This specimen likely contains orthoclase feldspar giving it the pink hue.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, monument stone, and as an aggregate.

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large part of the continental crust. Because it is so hard and durable, it is essentially the 'backbone' of mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its interlocking 'salt and pepper' or multi-colored grainy appearance where individual mineral crystals are visible to the naked eye. Commonly found in continental mountain ranges and plutonic outcrops.

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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