igneous
Granite
Phaneritic Igneous Rock
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, colors vary from pink to gray depending on feldspar content, phaneritic (coarse-grained) texture with visible crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica, specific gravity around 2.65 to 2.75.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, colors vary from pink to gray depending on feldspar content, phaneritic (coarse-grained) texture with visible crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica, specific gravity around 2.65 to 2.75.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling and crystallization of magma beneath the Earth's surface over millions of years, typically associated with continental crust and tectonic plate margins.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, architectural building facades, countertops, monuments, paving stones, and interior design.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common rock of the Earth's continental crust and is exceptionally durable against weathering, making it a preferred material for ancient Egyptian structures and modern monuments alike.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinctive speckled appearance with interlocking grains of translucent quartz, pink or white feldspar, and dark biotite mica flakes. Found globally in major mountain ranges and continental shields.
