Granite

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Highly variable, typically pink, white, gray, and black speckles. Luster: Vitreous. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained).

Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. Can be Proterozoic to Cenozoic in age.

Widely used in construction for countertops, flooring, paving, monuments, and as crushed stone or aggregate.

Granite is the most common plutonic rock of the Earth's crust. It gives names to mountains like the Granite Peak in Montana.

Identified by its visible interlocking crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica. Commonly found in continental crust worldwide. Collecting tips: Look for fresh, unweathered surfaces to see the true colors and crystal structure.