igneous
Granite
Granite (felsic intrusive igneous rock)
Hardness: 6 to 7 on Mohs scale. Color: tan, buff, grey, and cream with speckled dark minerals (biotite/amphibole) and visible quartz and feldspar grains. Luster: dull to vitreous. Crystal Structure: phaneritic (coarse-grained intrusive texture).
- Hardness
- 6 to 7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6 to 7 on Mohs scale. Color: tan, buff, grey, and cream with speckled dark minerals (biotite/amphibole) and visible quartz and feldspar grains. Luster: dull to vitreous. Crystal Structure: phaneritic (coarse-grained intrusive texture).
Formation & geological history
Formed by the slow crystallization of felsic magma beneath the Earth's surface under high pressure and temperature over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used as building stone, dimension stone, paving, curbing, crushed stone for aggregate, kitchen countertops, and landscaping rock.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. It is rich in quartz and feldspar, giving it superior resistance to weathering compared to many other rocks.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its phaneritic texture showing interlocking crystals of quartz, orthoclase feldspar, and dark mica or hornblende. Extremely common in mountainous and continental shield regions worldwide.
