igneous
Granite
Intrusive Igneous Rock (Mainly Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica)
Hardness: 6-7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Varies widely from pink to gray, white, and black depending on mineral proportions; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained, visible crystals); Cleavage: None overall, but constituent minerals have distinct cleavage; Specific Gravity: 2.65 - 2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 on the Mohs scale
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Varies widely from pink to gray, white, and black depending on mineral proportions; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained, visible crystals); Cleavage: None overall, but constituent minerals have distinct cleavage; Specific Gravity: 2.65 - 2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling of magma rich in silica and alkali metal oxides deep beneath the Earth's surface. Typically Precambrian to Cenozoic in age.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, buildings, monuments, paving, countertops, and interior design.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common rock of the Earth's continental crust. It forms the core of many major mountain ranges.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its speckled, interlocking crystal texture containing glassy quartz, opaque or colored feldspar, and dark flakes of mica. Found globally in continental shields and intrusive plutons.
