igneous

Granite

Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, white, gray, and black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Cleavage: None (though constituent minerals have cleavage); Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75

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

Identified February 20, 2026More igneous →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow crystallization of silica-rich magma beneath the Earth's surface (intrusive). They can date from the Archean Eon to the Cenozoic Era, typically forming in continental crustal environments.

Uses & applications

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

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Famous landmarks like Mount Rushmore and the Egyptian Pyramids contain significant amounts of granite or related granitic rocks.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its visible 'salt and pepper' crystalline texture consisting of quartz, feldspar, and mica. Found globally in mountainous regions and exposed shields. Collectors should look for unique porphyritic specimens with 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