igneous
Granite
Granite (Felsic Intrusive Igneous Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pink, orange-red, white, and black; Luster: Dull (weathered) to vitreous (minerals); Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained visible crystals); Cleavage: Variable by mineral; Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Pink, orange-red, white, and black
- Luster
- Dull (weathered) to vitreous (minerals)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pink, orange-red, white, and black; Luster: Dull (weathered) to vitreous (minerals); Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained visible crystals); Cleavage: Variable by mineral; Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow crystallization of silica-rich magma beneath the Earth's surface (plutonic). This specific specimen shows signs of being water-worn into a cobble/pebble shape, likely during the Holocene era or transported by glacial activity.
Uses & applications
Used widely in construction for countertops, monuments, curbing, and as crushed stone for road aggregate. Also used in curling stones and decorative landscaping.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. The pink/orange color in this specimen is due to a high concentration of Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase).
Field identification & locations
Identify by its 'salt and pepper' appearance with distinct interlocking crystals of quartz, feldspar, and darker minerals like hornblende or mica. Commonly found in mountain ranges and glacial deposits.
