igneous
Venetian Gold Granite
Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock (Granite)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Cream, gold, and tan base with garnet flecks and black biotite; Luster: Vitreous when polished; Structure: Coarse-grained interlocking crystals; Cleavage: None (fractures irregularly); Specific gravity: 2.63–2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- Vitreous when polished
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Cream, gold, and tan base with garnet flecks and black biotite; Luster: Vitreous when polished; Structure: Coarse-grained interlocking crystals; Cleavage: None (fractures irregularly); Specific gravity: 2.63–2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). Most commercial varieties from Brazil are Precambrian in age, dating back over 600 million years.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in residential and commercial construction for countertops, flooring, and wall cladding due to its durability and aesthetic appeal.
Geological facts
While sold as 'granite' in the trade, it often contains large amounts of plagioclase feldspar and small red garnets, which are metamorphic indicators often found in high-grade regional metamorphic belts.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its 'salt and pepper' texture mixed with golden ochre oxidation. Commonly quarried in Espirito Santo, Brazil. Collectors look for large, well-defined garnet inclusions.
