igneous
Granite
Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock
Hardness (Mohs): 6-7; Color: Pink, white, gray, and black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (large, visible crystals); Cleavage: Dependent on mineral (feldspar exhibits two directions); Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
- Color
- Pink, white, gray, and black
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness (Mohs): 6-7; Color: Pink, white, gray, and black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (large, visible crystals); Cleavage: Dependent on mineral (feldspar exhibits two directions); Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. It is a plutonic rock that forms deep foundations of continents, often dating from the Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stone, curbing, and monuments. Also popular as a crushed stone aggregate in infrastructure.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore is carved into a granite batholith in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking 'salt and pepper' appearance with visible crystals of quartz (clear/gray), feldspar (white/pink), and mica (black/shiny). Extremely common in mountain ranges and shields globally.
