igneous
Granodiorite
Granodiorite
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Salt and pepper (gray, white, black), Luster: Phaneritic (crystalline), Structure: Phaneritic (medium to coarse-grained), Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Salt and pepper (gray, white, black), Luster: Phaneritic (crystalline), Structure: Phaneritic (medium to coarse-grained), Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow cooling of silica-rich magma beneath the Earth's surface (intrusive) during mountain-building events. Typically Phanerozoic to Precambrian in age.
Uses & applications
Construction aggregate, road stone, dimension stone for buildings, and durable kitchen countertops.
Geological facts
Granodiorite is the rock that makes up the famous Rosetta Stone. It is intermediate in composition between granite and diorite.
Field identification & locations
Look for a salt-and-pepper appearance with more plagioclase feldspar than orthoclase. It is commonly found in large batholiths like those in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
