igneous
Red Granite
Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pinkish-red to grey with black speckles; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Pinkish-red to grey with black speckles
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pinkish-red to grey with black speckles; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling and crystallization of molten magma beneath the Earth's surface. This specimen likely dates back to the Precambrian or Paleozoic eras and was exposed through erosion and tectonic uplift.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction, monuments, kitchen countertops, flooring, and road base material due to its extreme durability and weather resistance.
Geological facts
The red color comes from a high concentration of potassium feldspar (orthoclase). Granite makes up much of the Earth's continental crust and is one of the hardest natural stones available.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its interlocking 'salt and pepper' crystalline texture and its inability to be scratched by a steel knife. It is ubiquitous in mountainous regions and glacial till.
