igneous
Granite
Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Gray, salt-and-pepper, or pinkish; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Composition: Quartz, Alkali Feldspar, and Plagioclase.
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Gray, salt-and-pepper, or pinkish
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Gray, salt-and-pepper, or pinkish; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Composition: Quartz, Alkali Feldspar, and Plagioclase.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below the Earth's surface (plutonic). Found in continental crust; ages range from billions of years to more recent tectonic events.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large part of the Earth's continental crust. El Capitan in Yosemite National Park is one of the most famous granite monoliths in the world.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking granular texture and visible crystals of quartz (clear/gray) and feldspar (white/pink). Commonly found in mountain ranges and glacial deposits.
