igneous
Granodiorite
Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock (Granodiorite)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Salt-and-pepper (speckled grey-white and black), Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Phaneritic (visible crystals), Composition: Primarily plagioclase feldspar, quartz, and hornblende/biotite.
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Salt-and-pepper (speckled grey-white and black), Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Phaneritic (visible crystals), Composition: Primarily plagioclase feldspar, quartz, and hornblende/biotite.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow cooling of silica-rich magma deep underground. It is an intrusive (plutonic) rock found in batholiths and continental crust, occurring across many geological ages from the Archean to the Cenozoic.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction as crushed stone for road base, building stone for monuments and memorials, and polished slabs for kitchen countertops and flooring.
Geological facts
The Rosetta Stone, one of history's most significant archaeological finds, was carved into a slab of granodiorite rather than basalt as originally believed.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its coarse-grained texture and high percentage of white/grey plagioclase feldspar compared to pink potassium feldspar. Commonly found in mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada in California and the Andes.
