igneous
Granite
Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray, pink, or white with dark specks; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific gravity: 2.63–2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Gray, pink, or white with dark specks
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray, pink, or white with dark specks; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific gravity: 2.63–2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. It is a coarse-grained intrusive rock common in the continental crust, often dating from the Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used widely in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large part of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore is carved into a granite batholith in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its speckled 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica. It is ubiquitous in mountain ranges and Shields.
