igneous

Granite

Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock (Granite)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Salt and pepper/mottled gray, white, and black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) with visible crystals of quartz and feldspar.

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: Salt and pepper/mottled gray, white, and black
Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified April 7, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below the Earth's surface. It is an intrusive igneous rock typical of continental crust, often dating back hundreds of millions to billions of years.

Uses & applications

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

Geological facts

Granite is one of the hardest and most durable substances in the world. It is the signature rock of the Earth's continents and makes up the core of most mountain ranges.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its speckled, interlocking crystal texture. You should see translucent quartz, opaque white or pink feldspar, and dark biotite or hornblende. Commonly found in mountainous batholiths.

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