igneous
Granite
Intrusive Igneous Rock
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale; color varies widely from pink to gray depending on mineral composition; dull to vitreous luster; phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystal structure with visible interlocking crystals; specific gravity around 2.65 to 2.75.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale; color varies widely from pink to gray depending on mineral composition; dull to vitreous luster; phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystal structure with visible interlocking crystals; specific gravity around 2.65 to 2.75.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling of magma rich in silica and alkali metals far beneath the Earth's surface. Geological ages range from Precambrian to recent.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction for dimensional stone, floor tiles, facing stone, monuments, and countertops.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common intrusive rock in the Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the Latin granum, a grain, in reference to the coarse-grained structure of such a holocrystalline rock.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its speckled pink, white, and black appearance due to the presence of quartz, feldspar, and biotite mica. Found globally in continental shields and mountain belts.
