igneous
Granite
Granite (Felsic Intrusive Igneous Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Salt and pepper pattern with white, gray, and black minerals; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Density: 2.63 to 2.75 g/cm3.
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Salt and pepper pattern with white, gray, and black minerals
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
Identified More igneous →
Explore Granite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Salt and pepper pattern with white, gray, and black minerals; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Density: 2.63 to 2.75 g/cm3.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow crystallization of silica-rich magma beneath the Earth's surface (plutonic). Found in massive crustal batholiths, often dating back to the Precambrian or Phanerozoic eons.
Uses & applications
Commonly used for kitchen countertops, flooring, monuments, paving, and heavy construction material due to its durability and resistance to abrasion.
Geological facts
Granite makes up the majority of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore is carved into a massive granite batholith in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its visible interlocking crystals of quartz (clear/gray), feldspar (white/pink), and biotite or hornblende (black). It is a primary constituent of mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada.
