igneous
Granite
Felsic Plutonic Rock (Granite)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, gray, or pink with black specks; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.63–2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- White, gray, or pink with black specks
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, gray, or pink with black specks; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.63–2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed by the slow crystallization of magma below the Earth's surface during the Phanerozoic and Precambrian eras. It is the primary component of continental crust.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, monuments, and as a dimension stone in architecture.
Geological facts
Granite is one of the hardest and most common rocks on the planet. The base of many mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada, is composed of massive granite batholiths.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking grains of quartz (glassy), feldspar (white/pink), and mica (black flakes). Commonly found in mountain cores or areas where erosion has exposed deep-seated crust.
