igneous
Granite
Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Pinkish-gray with black specks, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained), Cleavage: None (though constituent minerals have cleavage), Specific gravity: 2.63-2.75
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Pinkish-gray with black specks, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained), Cleavage: None (though constituent minerals have cleavage), Specific gravity: 2.63-2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. It is a plutonic rock found in continental crust and of varying geological ages from Precambrian to recent.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, and monuments. Higher quality specimens are used for ornamental purposes and Gravestones.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore is carved into a granite batholith in South Dakota.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its coarse-grained texture and interlocking crystals of light-colored minerals (quartz and feldspar) and dark minerals (biotite or hornblende). Found in continental massifs.
