igneous
Granite
Felsic intrusive igneous rock
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Light gray, pink, or white with dark speckles (salt and pepper appearance). Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained visible crystals). Specific gravity: 2.65-2.75.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Light gray, pink, or white with dark speckles (salt and pepper appearance). Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained visible crystals). Specific gravity: 2.65-2.75.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below the Earth's surface over millions of years, typically found in continental crust.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, countertops, monuments, floor tiles, and architectural facing stone.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common plutonic rock of the Earth's crust and forms the core of many major mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its interlocking, visible grains of quartz, feldspar, and dark minerals like biotite mica or amphibole. Common worldwide.
