igneous
Granite
Felsic intrusive igneous rock
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, colors typically include pink, white, gray, or black speckles, sub-metallic to vitreous luster, granular crystal structure, poor cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65 to 2.75.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, colors typically include pink, white, gray, or black speckles, sub-metallic to vitreous luster, granular crystal structure, poor cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65 to 2.75.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface over millions of years, commonly associated with continental crust and mountain-building processes.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, architectural buildings, monuments, paving, and interior countertops.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common plutonic rock of Earth's crust and makes up a major part of many mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada in California.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified in the field by its distinct interlocking mineral grains of quartz, feldspar, and biotite mica; found globally in shields and orogenic belts.
