igneous
Granite
Granite (Phaneritic Igneous Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: typically white, gray, or pink with black specks; Luster: dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: phaneritic (coarse-grained); Composition: Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica/Amphibole.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- typically white, gray, or pink with black specks
- Luster
- dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: typically white, gray, or pink with black specks; Luster: dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: phaneritic (coarse-grained); Composition: Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica/Amphibole.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling and crystallization of magma deep beneath the Earth's surface (plutonic). It can form over millions of years and is found in the continental crust.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common rock found in the Earth's continental crust. It is so durable that the Great Pyramid of Giza contains huge blocks of it, and Mount Rushmore is carved directly into a granite batholith.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible interlocking crystals. It is ubiquitous in mountainous regions and continental shields like the Canadian Shield.
