igneous
Granite
Intrusive Igneous Rock (composed mainly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase)
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, colors range from pink and gray to white, phaneritic (coarse-grained) texture with visible mineral crystals, specific gravity of 2.65 to 2.75.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, colors range from pink and gray to white, phaneritic (coarse-grained) texture with visible mineral crystals, specific gravity of 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 associated with continental crust.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in construction, monuments, flooring, countertops, and decorative stone.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common intrusive rock in the Earth's continental crust and forms the core of many major mountain ranges.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its speckled, interlocking crystal appearance containing glassy quartz, white or pink feldspar, and dark flakes of biotite or amphibole.
