igneous
Granite
Granite, a coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock composed mainly of quartz, feldspar, and mica
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectVisible interlocking grains with a mottled white, gray, and dark-speckled appearance; likely Mohs hardness about 6–7, vitreous quartz and feldspar luster, no consistent cleavage as a whole, and specific gravity around 2.6–2.7.…
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Physical properties
Visible interlocking grains with a mottled white, gray, and dark-speckled appearance; likely Mohs hardness about 6–7, vitreous quartz and feldspar luster, no consistent cleavage as a whole, and specific gravity around 2.6–2.7. The image’s coarse crystalline texture and pale feldspar-rich composition are characteristic of granite.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica-rich magma cools slowly underground, allowing large crystals to grow; granite bodies range from Archean to recent geological ages.
Uses & applications
Widely used as building and paving stone, countertops, monuments, and decorative aggregate; usually not used as a gemstone.
Geological facts
Granite is a rock rather than a single mineral, and its visible grains record slow cooling at depth.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its coarse, interlocking quartz and feldspar grains, commonly with dark biotite or hornblende flecks; it occurs in continental crust and exposed mountain plutons worldwide. A hand lens can help distinguish glassy quartz from feldspar.
