igneous
Granite
Phaneritic Plutonic Igneous Rock (Granite)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Salt and pepper (white, gray, black, pinkish highlights); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Cleavage: None (individual crystals show cleavage); Specific Gravity: 2.63 to 2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Salt and pepper (white, gray, black, pinkish highlights)
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Salt and pepper (white, gray, black, pinkish highlights); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Cleavage: None (individual crystals show cleavage); Specific Gravity: 2.63 to 2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow subterranean cooling of silica-rich magma (plutonic) within the Earth's crust. It is a major component of continental crust and varies in age from Precambrian to Cenozoic.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, monuments, and as aggregate for roads and railways.
Geological facts
Granite is one of the hardest and most durable substances in the world. Famous structures like the base of the Statue of Liberty and the Great Pyramid of Giza (interior) contain granite.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking 'salt and pepper' crystalline texture where minerals like quartz (clear/gray), feldspar (white/pink), and mica/hornblende (black) are visible to the naked eye. Found globally in mountainous regions and shield areas.
