igneous
Granite
Granite (quartz–feldspar intrusive igneous rock)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectCoarse-grained, mottled white, gray, and tan with dark mineral flecks; mainly quartz, feldspar, and mica. Hardness about 6–7 Mohs; crystalline, generally non-cleaved, with a glassy-to-dull luster. The image is not detailed enough to confirm the exact rock type.
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Physical properties
Coarse-grained, mottled white, gray, and tan with dark mineral flecks; mainly quartz, feldspar, and mica. Hardness about 6–7 Mohs; crystalline, generally non-cleaved, with a glassy-to-dull luster. The image is not detailed enough to confirm the exact rock type.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica-rich magma cools slowly underground, allowing visible crystals to grow; granite bodies occur in continental crust of many geological ages.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as building and paving stone, countertops, monuments, and decorative aggregate; rough specimens have modest collecting value.
Geological facts
Granite is a rock rather than a single mineral, and its visible grains reflect interlocking crystals formed during slow cooling.
Field identification & locations
Look for interlocking light quartz and feldspar grains with darker mica or amphibole; found worldwide in continental mountain belts and old crustal regions. Similar-looking coarse rocks can be distinguished more confidently with a fresh surface and mineral tests.
