igneous
Granite
Plutonic Igneous Rock (Granite)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Gray, white, pink (due to K-feldspar). Luster: Dull to pearly. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained), massive. Cleavage: Poor. Specific gravity: 2.63-2.75.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Gray, white, pink (due to K-feldspar)
- Luster
- Dull to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Gray, white, pink (due to K-feldspar). Luster: Dull to pearly. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained), massive. Cleavage: Poor. Specific gravity: 2.63-2.75.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface in continental crustal batholiths. Usually forms over millions of years during orogenic (mountain-building) events.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, countertops, monuments, floor tiles, and as crushed stone for road base.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large part of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore is carved into a granite batholith in South Dakota.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking 'salt and pepper' appearance of quartz, feldspar, and mica crystals. Commonly found in the cores of mountain ranges and shield areas like the Canadian Shield.
