igneous
Granite
Granite (plutonic igneous rock composed mainly of quartz, K-feldspar, and plagioclase)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Mottled pink, white, gray, and black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Texture: Phaneritic (coarse-grained coarse crystalline aggregate); Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Mottled pink, white, gray, and black
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Mottled pink, white, gray, and black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Texture: Phaneritic (coarse-grained coarse crystalline aggregate); Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed by the slow crystallization of felsic magma beneath the Earth's surface at continental crustal depths. Common in continental shield areas and batholiths worldwide.
Uses & applications
Extensively used as a dimension stone in construction, building facades, countertops, monuments, and crushed stone for aggregate base materials.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of Earth's continental crust. It is rich in quartz and potassium feldspar, which gives pink granite its distinctive salmon-pink color.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its visible interlocking phaneritic grains of quartz, pink feldspar, and dark mica or amphibole. Widespread in mountainous regions, riverbeds, and glacial till. Highly durable and common.
