igneous
Granite
Granite (Felsic Plutonic Igneous Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: light grey, white, pinkish with speckled dark grains; Luster: vitreous to dull; Structure: phaneritic (coarse-grained intrusive crystalline texturing); Cleavage: uneven fracture to blocky cleavage in feldspar components
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- light grey, white, pinkish with speckled dark grains
- Luster
- vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: light grey, white, pinkish with speckled dark grains; Luster: vitreous to dull; Structure: phaneritic (coarse-grained intrusive crystalline texturing); Cleavage: uneven fracture to blocky cleavage in feldspar components
Formation & geological history
Formed by the slow cooling and crystallization of felsic magma deep beneath the Earth's surface (plutonic environment) over millions of years, allowing individual mineral grains of quartz, feldspar, and mica to grow large enough to see.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction, road base, gravel, building facades, kitchen countertops, monuments, and landscaping due to its extreme durability and weather resistance.
Geological facts
Granite forms a major part of the continental crust. The name comes from the Latin word 'granum', meaning a grain, in reference to its coarse-grained structure.
Field identification & locations
Look for a coarse-grained, light-colored rock containing visible interlocked crystals of quartz (glassy, grey), feldspar (milky white or pinkish blocky grains), and mica or amphibole (black/dark specks). Very common in mountain cores and gravel pits worldwide.
