igneous
Granite
Phaneritic Plutonic Igneous Rock
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pinkish-orange (potassium feldspar), white (plagioclase), translucent (quartz), and black (biotite mica). Luster: Vitreous to pearly. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (visible crystals).
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pinkish-orange (potassium feldspar), white (plagioclase), translucent (quartz), and black (biotite mica). Luster: Vitreous to pearly. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (visible crystals).
Formation & geological history
Formed by the slow cooling of silica-rich magma deep within the Earth's crust (plutonic). Found in continental plates and mountain ranges, dating from the Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Major construction material, countertops, floor tiles, monument stone (gravestones), and crushed stone for road aggregate.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large part of the continental crust. Half Dome in Yosemite National Park is a famous example of a massive granite batholith.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking 'salt and pepper' or multicrystalline texture and presence of translucent quartz. Commonly found in mountainous regions or where glacial erosion has exposed the bedrock.
