igneous

Granite

Granite (Phaneritic Quartz-Feldspar Plutonic Rock)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Salt-and-pepper look with tan, cream, and grey; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (visible crystals); Cleavage: Distinct in feldspar grains.

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: Salt-and-pepper look with tan, cream, and grey
Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified May 16, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Salt-and-pepper look with tan, cream, and grey; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (visible crystals); Cleavage: Distinct in feldspar grains.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. It is a coarse-grained intrusive rock that can be billions of years old, found in continental crust.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction, countertops, monuments, paving stones, and as aggregate. It is valued for its durability and aesthetic appeal in architecture.

Geological facts

Granite is the most common igneous rock found on Earth's continents. It forms the core of many mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada in California.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its interlocking grains of light-colored minerals (quartz and feldspar) and dark-colored minerals (biotite or hornblende). It is extremely common in the Appalachian mountains and the Canadian Shield.

Other igneous specimens

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Blue Apatite

Fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F)

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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