igneous
Granite
Granite (Phaneritic Igneous Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Salt-and-pepper (white, grey, black, and pink); Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (coarsegrained) crystalline; Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Salt-and-pepper (white, grey, black, and pink)
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Salt-and-pepper (white, grey, black, and pink); Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (coarsegrained) crystalline; Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). Most continental granites date from the Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, countertops, floor tiles, curbing, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore is carved into a massive granite batholith in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking crystals of quartz (clear/grey), feldspar (white/pink), and mica (black). Commonly found in mountainous regions and glacial till.
