igneous

Granite

Phaneritic Plutonic Igneous Rock (composed of Quartz, Alkali Feldspar, and Plagioclase)

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink/Orange (orthoclase), white/gray (quartz), and black (biotite/hornblende); Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Cleavage: None in the rock itself, though individual feldspar grains show cleavage.

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs
Luster: Vitreous to pearly

Identified March 4, 2026More igneous →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). It is typically associated with continental crust and mountain-building events. Geological age can range from Archean to Cenozoic.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, and monuments due to its durability and aesthetic appeal. Also used as crushed stone for road base.

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore is carved into a granite batholith. It is one of the hardest and most durable common stones, making it resistant to weathering.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its 'salt and pepper' or mottled appearance with visible, interlocking crystals of different colors. It is found in large plutons or mountain ranges globally, such as the Sierra Nevada or the Scottish Highlands.

Other igneous specimens

See all

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