igneous
Granite
Granite
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Salt-and-pepper (gray, white, pink, black); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained), equigranular; Cleavage: None (fractures irregularly); Specific gravity: 2.63-2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Salt-and-pepper (gray, white, pink, black)
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Salt-and-pepper (gray, white, pink, black); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained), equigranular; Cleavage: None (fractures irregularly); Specific gravity: 2.63-2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of silica-rich magma deep underground (intrusive). The regional location (Mourmansk/Kola Peninsula) is famous for the Baltic Shield, consisting of ancient Precambrian rocks including vast granite massifs.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction, countertops, monuments, paving stones, and as crushed stone for road base and railroad ballast.
Geological facts
Granite makes up much of the Earth's continental crust. The Kola Superdeep Borehole, located in the same region as the coordinates provided, drilled through kilometers of granitic rock to reach record-breaking depths.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its visible interlocking crystals of quartz (clear/gray), feldspar (white/pink), and mica (black). It is extremely common in the Murmansk region of Russia where the user is located.
