Igneous
Granite
Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: typically mottled pink, white, gray, and black; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: None (the constituent minerals like feldspar have cleavage, but the rock itself breaks irregularly).
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- typically mottled pink, white, gray, and black
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: typically mottled pink, white, gray, and black; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: None (the constituent minerals like feldspar have cleavage, but the rock itself breaks irregularly).
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). It is a major component of the continental crust, with examples ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of years old.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction (countertops, floor tiles, paving stones), monuments, curbing, and as crushed stone for road base and railroad ballast.
Geological facts
Granite makes up the majority of the Earth's continental crust. Famous natural formations include Yosemite's Half Dome and Mount Rushmore, where the presidential faces are carved into a granite batholith.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its coarse 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible interlocking crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica. It is found in abundance in mountain ranges and ancient shield areas like the Canadian Shield or the Appalachians.
