Home
Compare Rocks


Granite Rock



Definition

Definition
Granite is a very hard, granular, crystalline igneous rock which consists mainly of quartz, mica, and feldspar and is often used as building stone

History

Origin
-

Discoverer
Alexander von Humboldt

Etymology
From Italian granito, which means grained rock, from grano grain, and from Latin granum

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group
Plutonic

Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Granular, Phaneritic

Color
Black, Grey, Orange, Pink, White

Maintenance
More

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
Yes

Acid Resistant
No

Appearance
Veined or Pebbled

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens, Stair Treads

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Bridges, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Near Swimming Pools, Office Buildings, Resorts

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Curling, Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Tombstones, Used in aquariums

Types

Types
Igneous Protolith Granite, Sedimentary Protolith Granite, Mantle Granite, Anorogenic Granite, Hybrid Granite, Granodiorite and Alkali Feldspar Granite

Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, It is One of the Oldest, Strongest and Hardest Rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
Agia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, Blue Domed Church in Santorini, Greece, Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Charminar in Hyderabad, India, Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in London, UK, Ephesus in Turkey, Georgia Guidestones in Georgia, US, Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, Khajuraho Temples, India, Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, India, Mysore Palace in Karnataka, India, Signers Monument in Augusta, Georgia, Statue of Liberty in New York, USA, Taj Mahal in Agra, India, Tower Bridge in London, Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, US, Washington Monument, US

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
Avukana Buddha Statue in Sri Lanka, Lincoln Memorial in America, Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, US, The Colossal Red Granite Statue of Amenhotep III in Karnak, Egypt

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

Formation
Granite is an intrusive igneous rock which is very hard, crystalline and is visibly homogeneous in texture and forms by melting of continental rocks

Composition

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
6-7

Grain Size
Large and Coarse Grained

Fracture
-

Streak
White

Porosity
Less Porous

Luster
Dull to Grainy with Sporadic parts Pearly and Vitreous

Compressive Strength
175.00 N/mm2 20

Cleavage
-

Toughness
-

Specific Gravity
2.6-2.7

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.65-2.75 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.79 kJ/Kg K 17

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam

Africa
Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Europe
Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sardinia, Spain, Switzerland, The Czech Republic

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada, USA

South America
-

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
-

Definition >>
<< All

Igneous Rocks

Information about Granite

Rocks are naturally occurring solids which are composed of minerals & have been used by humans since ages. From Stone Age, rocks are used for various purposes. Also, the metals and minerals found in rock play an important role in our life. Get to know all the Granite Uses. We have provided you with all information about Granite rock here. Granite is a very hard, granular, crystalline igneous rock which consists mainly of quartz, mica, and feldspar and is often used as building stone. Granite is available in black, grey, orange, pink, white colors. The streak of a rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Granite is white. Get to know more about Granite rock and characteristics of Granite rock in the next sections.

Compare Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks

» More Igneous Rocks

Compare Igneous Rocks

» More Compare Igneous Rocks