igneous
Granite
Granite, a coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock composed mainly of quartz, feldspar, and mica
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectVisible interlocking grains, mottled gray, white, and pink-brown colors, and a granular luster; quartz hardness is 7 Mohs, feldspars about 6, and mica about 2–3. The image suggests a weathered, possibly foliated or altered granite; crystal habit is coarse and crystalline.
Identified More igneous →
Explore Granite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Visible interlocking grains, mottled gray, white, and pink-brown colors, and a granular luster; quartz hardness is 7 Mohs, feldspars about 6, and mica about 2–3. The image suggests a weathered, possibly foliated or altered granite; crystal habit is coarse and crystalline.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica-rich magma cools slowly underground, commonly in continental crust; granite bodies occur across a wide range of geological ages, from Archean to recent.
Uses & applications
Used as building and dimension stone, paving, countertops, monuments, and decorative aggregate; intact hand specimens are mainly collected for display.
Geological facts
Granite’s visible grains reflect slow underground cooling; its exact minerals and any metamorphic alteration require closer examination.
Field identification & locations
Look for interlocking light quartz and feldspar grains with darker mica, and no layering typical of sedimentary rocks. Common worldwide in continental mountain belts and ancient shields; similar rocks can be difficult to distinguish by photograph.
