igneous
Granite with Quartz Vein
Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock (Felsic)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pinkish-red from potassium feldspar with white quartz; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific gravity: 2.63-2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Pinkish-red from potassium feldspar with white quartz
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pinkish-red from potassium feldspar with white quartz; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific gravity: 2.63-2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling of silica-rich magma deep beneath the Earth's surface. The visible white band is a quartz vein, created when hydrothermal fluids filled a fracture in the cooling granite and crystallized.
Uses & applications
Large-scale use includes countertops, floor tiles, and dimension stone for buildings. Small river-tumbled pieces are used in landscaping or collected as decorative pebbles.
Geological facts
Granite is the primary component of the Earth's continental crust. The pink color is specifically due to an abundance of orthoclase feldspar. Quartz veins within granite often contain minerals like gold or pyrite in certain geological settings.
Field identification & locations
Identify by the interlocking 'salt and pepper' crystalline texture and high hardness (cannot be scratched by a knife). Commonly found in glacial till, riverbeds, and mountainous regions like the Appalachians or the Rockies.
