igneous
Granite
Granitic intrusive igneous rock
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, gray, or pink with dark speckles (biotite/amphibole); Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Cleavage: None (though constituent minerals have them); Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- White, gray, or pink with dark speckles (biotite/amphibole)
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, gray, or pink with dark speckles (biotite/amphibole); Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Cleavage: None (though constituent minerals have them); Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of silica-rich magma beneath the Earth's surface. It is a major component of the continental crust and can date back billions of years or be as young as a few million.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base and concrete.
Geological facts
Granite is one of the hardest and most durable substances on Earth, which is why ancient civilizations like the Egyptians used it to build pyramids and statues like the Sphinx. It often contains radioactive elements like uranium in trace amounts.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its coarse, interlocking visible crystals of quartz (clear/gray) and feldspar (white/pink). Found worldwide in mountain ranges and batholiths (e.g., Yosemite, Scottish Highlands, Blue Ridge Mountains).
