igneous
Granite
Intrusive Igneous Rock (composed of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase)
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, colors range from pink and white to gray and black depending on feldspar and mineral content, vitreous to dull luster, phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystal structure with visible mineral crystals, specific gravity around 2.65 to 2.75.
Identified More igneous →
Explore Granite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, colors range from pink and white to gray and black depending on feldspar and mineral content, vitreous to dull luster, phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystal structure with visible mineral crystals, specific gravity around 2.65 to 2.75.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling of silica-rich magma beneath the Earth's surface over millions of years. It is a major component of continental crust.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, architectural buildings, countertops, monuments, paving stones, and landscaping.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common plutonic rock in the Earth's crust and is unique to Earth among the terrestrial planets.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified in the field by its interlocking, visible crystals of pink/white feldspar, glassy quartz, and dark biotite mica or hornblende. Found globally in continental shields and mountain ranges.
