igneous
Granite
Felsic intrusive igneous rock
Hardness: 6-7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Typically light-colored (white, gray, pink, or reddish) with dark mineral speckles. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained, visible crystals). Composition primarily includes quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on the Mohs scale
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Typically light-colored (white, gray, pink, or reddish) with dark mineral speckles. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained, visible crystals). Composition primarily includes quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma deep beneath the Earth's surface over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, architectural buildings, monuments, paving stones, and countertops.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common plutonic rock of Earth's crust and forms the core of many major mountain ranges.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinctive speckled appearance with visible interlocking crystals of quartz and feldspar. Found globally in continental shields.
