igneous
Granite
Granite
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Mottled pink, gray, black, and white. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained). Composition: Quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase feldspar, with minor mica or amphibole.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Mottled pink, gray, black, and white
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Mottled pink, gray, black, and white. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained). Composition: Quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase feldspar, with minor mica or amphibole.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. It is a plutonic rock found in continental crust and mountain ranges, often dating back hundreds of millions to billions of years.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction (countertops, flooring, monuments), landscaping, and as crushed stone for road base.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common igneous rock found on Earth's continents and makes up the core of many mountain ranges. The pink color seen in this specimen is typically due to potassium feldspar (orthoclase).
Field identification & locations
Identify by the 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible interlocking crystals. It is found globally in batholiths and glacial till.
