igneous
Granodiorite
Granodiorite
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Salt-and-pepper (mottled gray, white, and black/pinkish-brown). Luster: Phaneritic (crystalline). Structure: Coarse-grained intrusive. Cleavage: Poor. Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- Phaneritic (crystalline)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Salt-and-pepper (mottled gray, white, and black/pinkish-brown). Luster: Phaneritic (crystalline). Structure: Coarse-grained intrusive. Cleavage: Poor. Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow cooling of silica-rich magma deep within the Earth's crust (plutonic). Found in batholiths and mountain ranges, often dating from the Mesozoic to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used widely in heavy construction as crushed stone, road base, and dimension stone for buildings and monuments. It is also used for countertops and paving.
Geological facts
Granodiorite is the intermediate rock between granite and diorite. One of the most famous historical objects made from granodiorite is the Rosetta Stone, which was once incorrectly identified as basalt.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its coarse crystalline texture and 'salt and pepper' look. It contains more plagioclase feldspar than orthoclase. Commonly found in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California and the Scottish Highlands.
