igneous
Granite
Phaneritic plutonic igneous rock (mainly Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Salt-and-pepper (white, gray, pink, black); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75.
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Salt-and-pepper (white, gray, pink, black)
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Salt-and-pepper (white, gray, pink, black); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. High in silica and alkali metal oxides. Commonly found in continental crust and mountain ranges.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stone, monuments, and as crushed stone for aggregate in concrete and roads.
Geological facts
Granite is one of the hardest and most durable rocks on Earth, which is why it has been used in ancient monuments like the Egyptian Pyramids. It makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking 'salt and pepper' crystalline texture where minerals are large enough to see with the naked eye. Found in rocky outcrops or as rounded boulders in glacial till.
