igneous

Granite

Phaneritic Plutonic Felsic Rock

Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Salt and pepper (white/light grey minerals with black minerals); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained visible crystals); Cleavage: Dependent on mineral (orthoclase and biotite present); Specific gravity: 2.65-2.75.

Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale)
Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified April 7, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow cooling and solidification of magma deep beneath the Earth's surface. Granite is primarily Found in continental crust and can range from Precambrian to Cenozoic in age.

Uses & applications

Used widely in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, and monuments. Also used as crushed stone in roadbeds.

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large part of the continental crust. Half Dome in Yosemite National Park is one of the world's most famous granite monoliths. It is one of the hardest and most durable natural stones.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its coarse-grained texture where crystals of quartz (clear/grey), feldspar (white/pink), and mica (black/shiny) are visible to the naked eye. It is commonly found in mountain ranges and continental shields.

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