igneous
Granite
Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Salt and pepper appearance with pink, white, gray, and black; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) equigranular crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica.
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Salt and pepper appearance with pink, white, gray, and black
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Salt and pepper appearance with pink, white, gray, and black; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) equigranular crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. It is a coarse-grained, intrusive (plutonic) rock generally associated with mountain building and continental crust formation over millions of years.
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 portion of the Earth's continental crust. It is one of the hardest and most durable natural stones, which is why it has been used since ancient times for statues and architecture, like the pyramids of Giza.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking 'salt and pepper' crystalline texture where minerals are large enough to see with the naked eye. Found globally in mountainous regions and shield areas like the Appalachians or the Canadian Shield.
