igneous
Granite
Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock
Hardness: 6-7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Pink, white, gray, or black speckled; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Coarse-grained, interlocking phaneritic texture; Cleavage: None distinct as a rock, composed of minerals with various cleavages (quartz, feldspar, biotite); Specific Gravity: 2.65 - 2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- Pink, white, gray, or black speckled
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Pink, white, gray, or black speckled; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Coarse-grained, interlocking phaneritic texture; Cleavage: None distinct as a rock, composed of minerals with various cleavages (quartz, feldspar, biotite); Specific Gravity: 2.65 - 2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma beneath the Earth's surface over millions of years, commonly found in continental crust and mountain-building regions.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, architectural building facades, countertops, monuments, paving stones, and interior flooring.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common rock of Earth's continental crust and is frequently used as a benchmark for durability in architectural history.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinct salt-and-pepper or pink speckled appearance with visible mineral crystals; found globally in continental shields and intrusive plutons.
