igneous
Granite
Granite; chiefly quartz (SiO₂), feldspar, and mica (biotite/muscovite)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectCoarse-grained, speckled gray–pink rock with visible interlocking crystals; quartz gives glassy luster, feldspar is commonly pale pink/white, and mica forms dark flakes. Mohs hardness is about 6–7; massive, with no obvious cleavage as a whole.
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Physical properties
Coarse-grained, speckled gray–pink rock with visible interlocking crystals; quartz gives glassy luster, feldspar is commonly pale pink/white, and mica forms dark flakes. Mohs hardness is about 6–7; massive, with no obvious cleavage as a whole.
Formation & geological history
An intrusive felsic igneous rock formed when silica-rich magma cooled slowly deep underground, typically during Precambrian to younger continental mountain-building events. Weathering and erosion later exposed the pluton at the surface.
Uses & applications
Widely used for countertops, monuments, building stone, paving, aggregate, and decorative slabs; this small rounded specimen has mainly educational or modest collector value.
Geological facts
Its granular texture records slow cooling, allowing large crystals to grow. The specimen may also be granitic gneiss or granodiorite, but the visible quartz–feldspar–mica assemblage is characteristic of granite.
Field identification & locations
Common in continental crust and exposed in mountain belts worldwide, including India, Africa, North America, and Scandinavia. Identify it by its interlocking quartz, feldspar, and mica grains; a fresh surface is more diagnostic than a weathered one.
