igneous
Granite
Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Salt and pepper (white, gray, and black). Luster: Dull to vitreous. Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained). Composition: Quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase feldspar with minor mica or amphibole minerals.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Salt and pepper (white, gray, and black)
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Salt and pepper (white, gray, and black). Luster: Dull to vitreous. Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained). Composition: Quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase feldspar with minor mica or amphibole minerals.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. It is a plutonic rock found in continental crust, often dating from the Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large part of the continental crust. Because it is so hard and resistant to erosion, it often forms the core of many mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada in California.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible interlocking crystals of different colors. It is commonly found in mountainous regions or areas where ancient bedrock has been exposed by erosion.
