igneous
Granite with a dark mafic inclusion
Biotite–hornblende granite containing a mafic xenolith/enclave
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectCoarse-grained, interlocking quartz, feldspar, and dark biotite/hornblende; the host is gray-pink and speckled, while the inclusion is darker and finer-grained. Mohs hardness is about 6–7; vitreous quartz, pearly feldspar, no obvious cleavage at specimen scale, and specific gravity about 2.65–2.8.
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Physical properties
Coarse-grained, interlocking quartz, feldspar, and dark biotite/hornblende; the host is gray-pink and speckled, while the inclusion is darker and finer-grained. Mohs hardness is about 6–7; vitreous quartz, pearly feldspar, no obvious cleavage at specimen scale, and specific gravity about 2.65–2.8.
Formation & geological history
Granite crystallized slowly from silica-rich magma deep in the crust, commonly during Precambrian to Mesozoic plutonic events; the dark body is an engulfed fragment or globule of mafic magma. Exact age and locality cannot be determined from the image.
Uses & applications
Widely used as dimension stone, countertops, monuments, aggregate, and landscaping rock; this ordinary outdoor specimen has little jewelry use.
Geological facts
The dark inclusion is likely a mafic enclave, recording mingling between contrasting magmas before the granite solidified.
Field identification & locations
Identify granite by visible quartz, feldspar, and mica grains with no layering; a mafic enclave is typically darker, denser, and finer-grained than its host. Common worldwide in continental mountain belts and exposed plutons.
