igneous

Granite

Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Gray, white, pink, or reddish with dark specks. Luster: Dull to vitreous. Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) with interlocking crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica.

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: Gray, white, pink, or reddish with dark specks
Luster: Dull to vitreous

Identified April 8, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below the Earth's surface. It is a major component of continental crust and can range from Precambrian to Cenozoic in age.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, and monuments due to its durability and resistance to weathering.

Geological facts

Granite is one of the hardest and most durable substances on Earth, second only to diamonds. It makes up the bulk of many mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada and the Himalayas.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its 'salt and pepper' appearance and coarse texture where individual crystals are visible to the naked eye. It is found in continental cratons and mountain belts worldwide.

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