igneous

Granite

Granite (composition: Quartz, Feldspar, Mica)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Phaneritic (speckled) salt-and-pepper look with white/grey and black; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Massive, coarse-grained holocrystalline.

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Luster: Vitreous to pearly

Identified March 8, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Phaneritic (speckled) salt-and-pepper look with white/grey and black; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Massive, coarse-grained holocrystalline.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). Geological ages vary widely from Precambrian to Cenozoic, found typically in continental crust plutons.

Uses & applications

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

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. It is one of the hardest substances in the world, second only to diamonds and certain other gemstones.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible interlocking crystals. Common in mountain ranges and shield areas like the Sierra Nevada (USA) or the Scottish Highlands.

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

Magnetite

Iron(II,III) oxide (Fe3O4)

mineral

Sodalite

Sodalite - Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2

mineral

Blue Apatite

Apatite (Group), Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)

mineral

Magnetite

Magnetite (Fe3O4)

mineral