igneous
Red granite boulder
Granite, a coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock; commonly quartz + feldspar + mica
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectReddish-pink with dark mineral flecks and a granular texture; typically Mohs 6–7, vitreous quartz and feldspar, with no overall cleavage. Exact mineral proportions and properties cannot be confirmed from the photograph.
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Physical properties
Reddish-pink with dark mineral flecks and a granular texture; typically Mohs 6–7, vitreous quartz and feldspar, with no overall cleavage. Exact mineral proportions and properties cannot be confirmed from the photograph.
Formation & geological history
Granite forms when silica-rich magma cools slowly underground, allowing visible crystals to grow; its age depends on the source intrusion and cannot be determined from appearance alone.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as crushed aggregate, dimension stone, paving, countertops, and monuments; this rough specimen is mainly of modest collecting interest.
Geological facts
The red color usually comes from iron-bearing potassium feldspar. Granite is a rock made of several minerals, not a single mineral species.
Field identification & locations
The coarse interlocking crystals, pale quartz/feldspar, reddish tone, and scattered dark minerals are characteristic clues. Granite occurs worldwide in continental crust; a fresh surface and hand lens help distinguish it from similarly colored rocks.
