igneous
Granite
Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Grayish-white with speckled dark minerals. Luster: Dull to vitreous. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained). Cleavage: None (fractures irregularly). Specific gravity: 2.65 to 2.75.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Grayish-white with speckled dark minerals
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Grayish-white with speckled dark minerals. Luster: Dull to vitreous. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained). Cleavage: None (fractures irregularly). Specific gravity: 2.65 to 2.75.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. Primarily found in continental crust, often appearing in mountain roots and batholiths dating from the Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore is carved into a granite batholith. It is one of the hardest and most durable natural stones available.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its interlocking coarse grains of quartz (glassy), feldspar (opaque white/pink), and mica (shiny black flakes). It is found globally in mountainous regions and shield areas.
