igneous

Granite

Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)

Hardness: 6-7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Typically light-colored, ranging from grey to white or pink. Luster: Dull to vitreous (glassy) depending on mineral faces. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained visible crystals). Cleavage: None for the rock as a whole; specific minerals like mica have perfect cleavage.

Hardness: 6-7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Typically light-colored, ranging from grey to white or pink
Luster: Dull to vitreous (glassy) depending on mineral faces

Identified January 11, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow cooling and solidification of magma deep beneath the Earth's surface (intrusive). They can be hundreds of millions to billions of years old, often found in the continental crust of cratons.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, and memorial monuments due to its durability and aesthetic appeal.

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Famous peaks like Mount Everest and the granite domes of Yosemite National Park (like Half Dome) are composed of this hardy material.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its 'salt and pepper' appearance, composed of quartz, feldspar, and small dark specks of biotite or hornblende. Crystals should be large enough to see with the naked eye. Commonly found in mountain ranges and eroded shield areas.

Other igneous specimens

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Blue Apatite

Fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F)

mineral

Dark Igneous Rock (Likely Basalt or Diabase)

Basalt (extrusive igneous rock) or Diabase (intrusive igneous rock - also known as Dolerite), largely composed of plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene (augite), and sometimes olivine and amphibole. Exact mineralogy would require thin section analysis.

Igneous