igneous
Granite
Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pinkish-red, white, and grey; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Indistinct in hand specimen; Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pinkish-red, white, and grey
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pinkish-red, white, and grey; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Indistinct in hand specimen; Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. This specimen appears water-worn or weathered, likely found in a riverbed or glacial deposit. Typical age ranges from hundreds of millions to billions of years old.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction (countertops, floor tiles, paving stones), curbing, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base. Smaller specimens are collected as paperweights or decorative landscape stones.
Geological facts
Granite is the primary rock type making up the Earth's continental crust. Its pink color is usually due to an abundance of potassium feldspar (orthoclase). It is one of the hardest and most durable common stones.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its interlocking visible crystals of feldspar, quartz, and mica. This piece shows a rounded, 'river-rock' texture. Common worldwide in mountain ranges and shield areas.
