igneous
Granite-like felsic rock
Likely granite or granodiorite; quartz–feldspar–mica aggregate
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness about 6–7 Mohs; coarse-grained, pale gray to tan with dark mica/amphibole flecks, vitreous quartz, and blocky feldspar crystals. Massive texture with no obvious cleavage as a whole; exact identification is limited by the photograph.
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Physical properties
Hardness about 6–7 Mohs; coarse-grained, pale gray to tan with dark mica/amphibole flecks, vitreous quartz, and blocky feldspar crystals. Massive texture with no obvious cleavage as a whole; exact identification is limited by the photograph.
Formation & geological history
Slow cooling of silica-rich magma deep in the continental crust, producing visible interlocking crystals; commonly Precambrian to Phanerozoic in age. It may also be a weathered fragment of granitic bedrock.
Uses & applications
Widely used as building stone, countertops, monuments, aggregate, and dimension stone; ordinary hand specimens have little commercial value.
Geological facts
Granite is distinguished from basalt by its light color and coarse texture, and from gneiss by lacking clear mineral banding or foliation.
Field identification & locations
Common worldwide, especially in continental shields and mountain belts; identify by visible quartz, light feldspar, and scattered dark mica. A fresh broken surface and a hand lens help confirm the texture.
