igneous
Granite with Mafic Xenolith
Intrusive Igneous Rock containing a Xenolith
Hardness of 6-7 on the Mohs scale, consisting mainly of pinkish feldspar, translucent quartz, and a prominent dark speckled mafic enclave (rich in biotite and hornblende). Phaneritic (coarse-grained) texture with vitreous to dull luster.
Identified More igneous →
Explore Granite with Mafic Xenolith in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 6-7 on the Mohs scale, consisting mainly of pinkish feldspar, translucent quartz, and a prominent dark speckled mafic enclave (rich in biotite and hornblende). Phaneritic (coarse-grained) texture with vitreous to dull luster.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling of magma beneath the Earth's crust (plutonic). The dark patch is a xenolith—a piece of country rock that was trapped in the magma during the intrusion and cooling process.
Uses & applications
Used in architectural stone, decorative landscaping, monuments, and as a fascinating educational specimen for understanding magmatic processes.
Geological facts
Xenoliths provide geologists with direct physical samples of the deep crust or mantle that would otherwise be inaccessible, acting as 'windows' into the Earth's interior.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by the sharp contrast between the light-colored felsic host granite and the dark, fine-grained inclusion. Commonly found in glacial drift or riverbeds where granitic plutons have eroded.
