igneous
Granite
Phaneritic Igneous Rock (primarily Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: speckled white, pink, and gray; Luster: vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: phaneritic (large, visible grains); Cleavage: irregular/conchoidal; Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- speckled white, pink, and gray
- Luster
- vitreous to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: speckled white, pink, and gray; Luster: vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: phaneritic (large, visible grains); Cleavage: irregular/conchoidal; Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of molten rock (magma) deep below the Earth's surface in continental crust. It can date back billions of years or be as young as millions of years depending on the pluton.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction (countertops, floor tiles, paving stones), as dimension stone for monuments, and as crushed stone for road base.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common rock found in the Earth's continental crust. It makes up the core of many mountain ranges, including the Sierra Nevada and the Himalayas.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking grains of light-colored minerals (white/pink feldspar and clear quartz) and dark flakes of mica. Found globally in continental basement rock and glacial till.
