igneous
Granite
Granite (composed mainly of Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, white, gray, black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: None (fractures)
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Pink, white, gray, black
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, white, gray, black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: None (fractures)
Formation & geological history
Formed by the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface in batholiths and plutons; typically associated with continental crust formation
Uses & applications
Primary construction material for countertops, monuments, curbing, and aggregate; used as a dimension stone for architectural cladding
Geological facts
Granite makes up much of the Earth's continental crust and is one of the most common intrusive igneous rocks; it is the state rock of New Hampshire
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking granular texture where individual crystals of pink feldspar and clear quartz are visible; found worldwide in mountain ranges
