igneous
Granodiorite
Phaneritic Plutonic Intermediate-Felsic Rock
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Salt and pepper (mottled gray, white, and pinkish/red); Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Salt and pepper (mottled gray, white, and pinkish/red)
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Salt and pepper (mottled gray, white, and pinkish/red); Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through slow crystallization of silica-rich magma beneath the Earth's surface during the cooling of continental crust, typically in subduction zones.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in construction as crushed stone or road base, and polished for use as architectural stone, countertops, or paving.
Geological facts
Granodiorite was used by the ancient Egyptians for statues and sarcophagi. The most famous artifact made of granodiorite is the Rosetta Stone.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking crystalline texture containing both light (plagioclase, quartz) and dark (biotite, hornblende) minerals. Widely found in massive batholiths like the Sierra Nevada.
