Granite

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Phaneritic (visible crystals) mix of white/clear (quartz), pink/cream (feldspar), and black (mica/amphibole). Luster: Vitreous to dull. Structure: Massive, interlocking granular texture.

Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). Geological age varies globally from Archean eon to Cenozoic era. Found in continental crust, specifically within batholiths and mountain ranges.

Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, and memorial monuments due to its durability and resistance to weathering.

Granite makes up a large part of the continental crust. The word comes from the Latin 'granum', meaning a grain, in reference to its coarse-grained structure. It is the signature rock of the continents, as it is rarely found on the ocean floor.

Identify in the field by its 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible, interlocking mineral grains that cannot be scratched easily by a steel knife. Commonly found in glaciated regions as 'erratics' or in mountain cores. Collectors look for unique mineral inclusions or pegmatitic textures (very large crystals).