igneous

Granite

Phaneritic Granitoid (Primary minerals: Quartz SiO2, Feldspar KAlSi3O8, and Biotite/Mica)

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, white, gray, and black mottled patterns; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Cleavage: None (individual crystals show cleavage, the rock does not); Specific gravity: 2.63 to 2.75

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs
Color: Pink, white, gray, and black mottled patterns
Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified March 15, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). The pink color indicates a high concentration of potassium feldspar. It can range in age from billions of years (Precambrian) to relatively recent eras.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction for countertops, monuments, floor tiles, and paving stones. It is also crushed into aggregate for road building and landscaping.

Geological facts

Granite makes up the majority of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore and the Egyptian pyramids contain significant amounts of granite or granite-like rock. It is one of the hardest and most durable common substances on the planet.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible interlocking crystals of different colors. It is found in large mountain ranges and continental shields globally. Collectors look for 'pegmatite' varieties with exceptionally large crystals.

Other igneous specimens

See all

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

Magnetite

Iron(II,III) oxide (Fe3O4)

mineral

Blue Apatite

Apatite (Group), Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)

mineral

Sodalite

Sodalite - Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2

mineral

Magnetite

Magnetite (Fe3O4)

mineral