igneous

Granite

Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, white, gray, or black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Imperfect; Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs
Color: Pink, white, gray, or black
Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified March 23, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, white, gray, or black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Imperfect; Specific gravity: 2.63 - 2.75

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below the Earth's surface (intrusive). Geological age spans from the Archean Eon to the Cenozoic, found globally in continental crust.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, and monuments. Also value as a decorative building stone and in crushed form as road base.

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Famous specimens include the massive monoliths of Yosemite National Park (El Capitan). It is extremely resistant to weathering and acid rain.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its interlocking, visible crystals of quartz (clear/gray), feldspar (pink/white), and mica (black/shiny). Common in mountain ranges and eroded shields. Look for a 'salt and pepper' appearance.

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