igneous
Granite
Plutonic Igneous Rock
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, colors vary from pink to gray depending on the feldspar content, dull to glassy luster, phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystal structure, specific gravity around 2.65 to 2.75.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, colors vary from pink to gray depending on the feldspar content, dull to glassy luster, phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystal structure, specific gravity around 2.65 to 2.75.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling and solidification of magma below the Earth's surface over millions of years, typically associated with continental crust and mountain-building processes.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, architectural buildings, countertops, monuments, and paving stones.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common rock of the Earth's continental crust and is exceptionally durable against weathering.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its visibly interlocked mineral crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica. Found globally in continental shields and orogenic belts.
