igneous
Feldspar Granodiorite
Granodiorite (Na,Ca)(Si,Al)4O8
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pinkish-orange with gray/white matrix; Luster: Pearly to Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Pinkish-orange with gray/white matrix
- Luster
- Pearly to Vitreous
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pinkish-orange with gray/white matrix; Luster: Pearly to Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling of silica-rich magma beneath the Earth's surface (plutonic). Found in continental crust, often during the Paleozoic or Mesozoic eras during mountain-building events.
Uses & applications
Crushed stone for road construction, building materials, ornamental stone, and occasionally used as a soil conditioner when ground.
Geological facts
Granodiorite is the most common intrusive rock in the Earth's crust; the famous Rosetta Stone was actually carved on a slab of granodiorite.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking crystalline texture and coarse grain size. Look for the distinct cleavage of feldspar crystals (two planes at near 90 degrees). Commonly found in batholiths and large mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada.
