igneous
Granite
Granite (Plutonic Igneous Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs. Color: Speckled gray, white, black, and pink tones. Luster: Dull to pearly/vitreous. Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained, visible interlocked crystals). Specific Gravity: ~2.63-2.75.
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Speckled gray, white, black, and pink tones
- Luster
- Dull to pearly/vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs. Color: Speckled gray, white, black, and pink tones. Luster: Dull to pearly/vitreous. Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained, visible interlocked crystals). Specific Gravity: ~2.63-2.75.
Formation & geological history
Formed deep beneath the Earth's surface through the slow cooling and crystallization of felsic magma under high pressure over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used as dimension stone in construction, kitchen countertops, floor tiles, paving, monuments, and crushed stone aggregate for road building.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of Earth's continental crust. Famous geological features made of granite include Mount Rushmore and the peaks of Yosemite Valley.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive speckled 'salt-and-pepper' appearance showing visible crystals of quartz, feldspar, and dark minerals like mica or hornblende. Found globally in continental shields and mountain belts.
