igneous
Granite
Intrusive Igneous Rock
Hardness: 6 on the Mohs scale, Color: Pink, red, white, or gray with speckled appearance, Luster: Dull to vitreous, Crystal structure: Phaneric (coarse-grained) texture with visible crystals, Specific gravity: 2.65 to 2.75
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6 on the Mohs scale, Color: Pink, red, white, or gray with speckled appearance, Luster: Dull to vitreous, Crystal structure: Phaneric (coarse-grained) texture with visible crystals, Specific gravity: 2.65 to 2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below the Earth's surface over millions of years, typically ranging in geological age from Precambrian to Cenozoic
Uses & applications
Commonly used in construction, countertops, monuments, flooring, and architectural facing stone
Geological facts
Granite is the most common igneous rock in the Earth's continental crust and is exceptionally durable due to its interlocking quartz and feldspar crystals
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinct speckled pinkish-red and white crystalline texture; found globally in continental shields and mountain ranges
