{"id":5318,"date":"2022-02-25T13:26:22","date_gmt":"2022-02-25T19:26:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/?p=5318"},"modified":"2022-09-19T07:25:26","modified_gmt":"2022-09-19T12:25:26","slug":"granite-identification-characteristics-pictures-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/granite-identification-characteristics-pictures-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Granite: Identification, Characteristics, Pictures &#038; More"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:76.5625%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:72.65625%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:85.079365079365%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:66.640625%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}<\/style>\n<p>Granite is one of the most commonly found rocks in many areas of the world. Because of its innate strength, beauty, and variety, it is also one of the most popular rocks for amateur collectors and for decorative use in building. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many similar rock types are often described as &lsquo;granite&rsquo; but there is actually a very specific set of criteria that a rock has to meet to technically be considered a &lsquo;granite&rsquo;. It can be difficult to know exactly what granite looks like and how to identify it, but it is relatively simple if you know what to look for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Granite is an intrusive igneous rock composed primarily of feldspar, quartz, and smaller amounts of mica. It has a phaneritic texture, meaning its tightly interlocking crystals can be seen with the naked eye. It usually displays mottled colors of off-white, gray, pink, and black with no layering or banding.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While granite is a clearly defined rock type, there are many different varieties that can appear quite different from one another. I&rsquo;ll walk you through how to identify granite, what it looks like, and where it can be found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does Granite Look Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Granite is one of the most common igneous rocks, and most people are familiar with what it looks like. Or, at least, they think they are. Because granite is so popular for use in things like buildings and countertops, other similar-looking rocks are often advertised or described as granite. So, what does real granite actually look like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Granite has a coarse-grained texture with large, interlocking crystals of translucent to off-white quartz, white to dark pink feldspar, and darker micas and amphiboles. Its crystals are roughly equal-sized and it is relatively light in color, lacking any structural features like layering, banding, or fossils.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5600\" width=\"1280\" height=\"980\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-300x230.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-1024x783.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-768x588.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-1536x1175.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-2048x1567.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-735x562.jpg 735w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-335x256.jpg 335w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-347x265.jpg 347w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-520x398.jpg 520w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-640x490.jpg 640w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-960x734.jpg 960w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-1080x826.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 24px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201280%20980'%3E%3Crect%20width='1280'%20height='980'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5600 eager-load\" width=\"1280\" height=\"980\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 24px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-scaled.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-scaled.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-300x230.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-1024x783.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-768x588.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-1536x1175.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-2048x1567.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-735x562.jpg 735w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-335x256.jpg 335w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-347x265.jpg 347w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-520x398.jpg 520w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-640x490.jpg 640w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-960x734.jpg 960w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_17997711-1080x826.jpg 1080w\" data-svg=\"1\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption>Granite<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>While all granite meets this general description, there is a pretty wide spectrum of granite that can look significantly different from one another. The difference in their appearance is driven by the mineralogy of each type of granite and, to a lesser extent, the subtle differences in their textures (crystal sizes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Color is Driven by Mineralogy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The two major minerals present in all granites are quartz and feldspar<\/strong>. Each of these minerals can present itself in different ways. Feldspar, in particular, can look quite different from rock to rock depending on the specific type of feldspar that is present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Quartz<\/strong> usually appears in granite as translucent, light gray, or off-white. In polished granite (as you have likely seen in countertops) it sometimes feels like you can see below the surface of the rock. This is because the quartz crystals are transparent or translucent, allowing you to see through them. Some varieties may have more impurities which make the quartz crystals an opaque gray or white color. In any case, quartz is a significant contributor to granite&rsquo;s overall light color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Feldspar <\/strong>has much more variety than quartz. It is actually a group of minerals that can be divided into two main types: plagioclase feldspar and potassium feldspar (K-spar). These two types of feldspar look quite different from one another, and can even vary significantly in appearance themselves. More than one type of feldspar may be present in granite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>K-spar is somewhat more abundant in granite than plagioclase, but both are common. For the purposes of identifying a rock as granite, distinguishing between the two is usually not necessary. However, there are some easy-to-spot differences that can help you see the difference and further understand your rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both K-spar and plagioclase feldspar can be white, but k-spar is also very commonly salmon-pink or even darker pink, bordering on red. Plagioclase feldspar usually has visible striations in its crystals that may be visible if the individual crystals are large enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common accessory minerals (minerals found in relatively low amounts) in granite are <strong>mica and amphibole<\/strong>. The micas will either be muscovite or biotite, both of which form very flaky &lsquo;books&rsquo; as crystals in the rock. Muscovite is very light or even translucent, while biotite is very dark. Amphibole is a large group of minerals, but will always look like dark, blocky crystals interspersed throughout the granite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Texture of Granite<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the defining features of granite&rsquo;s appearance is its texture. <strong>All granites are coarse-grained<\/strong>, meaning that you can see the individual crystals in the rock. <strong>This texture is known as &lsquo;phaneritic&rsquo;<\/strong>, and it forms when magma cools slowly and allows the crystals enough time to grow before becoming completely solidified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While all granites are phaneritic, it is also possible (and even common) to describe their texture in other ways. Rocks can be described as having more than one texture as long as the texture types are not mutually exclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most granite is &lsquo;<strong>equigranular<\/strong>&lsquo;, which means that all of the crystals are approximately the same size. So, a granite rock may be described as &lsquo;phaneritic and equigranular&rsquo; if you can see similarly-sized crystals with the naked eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some granites can have a &lsquo;<strong>porphyritic<\/strong>&lsquo; texture. This indicates that there are larger crystals called &lsquo;phenocrysts&rsquo; in a groundmass of smaller crystals. So if a granite has large feldspar crystals surrounded by smaller (but still visible) quartz and amphibole crystals you could describe it as &lsquo;porphyritic and phaneritic&rsquo;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Identify Granite<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Granite is so widespread and relatively recognizable that you might think that identifying it is a trivial matter. While that is often the case, that mindset often leads people to misidentify other rock types as granite. It is important to take a more methodical approach when identifying granite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To identify granite, first ensure its color is relatively light. Then, look closely and make sure you can see individual crystals with the naked eye. Try to identify large amounts of light-colored quartz and feldspar, with smaller amounts of darker mica or amphibole. There should be no porosity or layering.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A rock must meet all of these requirements to be considered a granite:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Igneous &ndash;<\/strong> Formed from cooling magma. Interlocking crystal grains.<\/li><li><strong>Coarse-grained &ndash;<\/strong> Phaneritic texture with crystals visible to the naked eye<\/li><li><strong>Felsic Mineralogy &ndash; <\/strong>High quartz and feldspar content<\/li><li><strong>Massive &ndash;<\/strong> No internal structures or layering<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Rough granite specimen with a phaneritic texture and clearly visible crystals of quartz, feldspar, hornblende, and mica.\" class=\"wp-image-5602\" width=\"1280\" height=\"930\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-300x218.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-1024x743.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-768x558.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-1536x1115.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-2048x1487.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-735x534.jpg 735w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-335x243.jpg 335w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-347x252.jpg 347w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-520x378.jpg 520w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-640x465.jpg 640w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-960x697.jpg 960w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-1080x784.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 24px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Rough granite specimen with a phaneritic texture and clearly visible crystals of quartz, feldspar, hornblende, and mica.\" class=\"wp-image-5602 lazyload\" width=\"1280\" height=\"930\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-300x218.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-1024x743.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-768x558.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-1536x1115.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-2048x1487.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-735x534.jpg 735w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-335x243.jpg 335w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-347x252.jpg 347w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-520x378.jpg 520w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-640x465.jpg 640w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-960x697.jpg 960w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-1080x784.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 24px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Granite-Illustration-scaled.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-2\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If your rock meets all of those criteria then it is very likely a granite, or at least something very closely related. Some rocks with mineralogies very similar to granite are considered &lsquo;granitoids&rsquo;, and for purposes of casual identification &lsquo;granite&rsquo; is usually close enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p><strong>Tip:<\/strong> This article is part of my igneous rock identification series. To read more about how to identify all igneous rocks, <a href=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/igneous-rocks-pictures-descriptions-identification\/\">check out my article here<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>When observing and identifying a rock like granite it can often be useful to use a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Wesleys-Magnifier-Illuminated-Gardening-Collecting\/dp\/B07KTKT3QP?crid=24XYEP4BR2OIO&amp;keywords=hand+lens&amp;qid=1648449397&amp;sprefix=hand+lens,aps,152&amp;sr=8-7&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=rockhoundreso-20&amp;linkId=c4edbf3004f2b4abc67f4a9f38deac5c&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>hand lens like this one from Amazon<\/strong><\/a>. This allows you to see the individual crystal grains more clearly and often helps you identify the specific species of minerals present in a rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Granite Made Of?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485.jpg\" alt=\"Granite\" class=\"wp-image-5599\" width=\"1260\" height=\"1072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485.jpg 2519w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-300x255.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-1024x872.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-768x654.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-1536x1307.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-2048x1743.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-735x626.jpg 735w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-335x285.jpg 335w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-347x295.jpg 347w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-520x443.jpg 520w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-640x545.jpg 640w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-960x817.jpg 960w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-1080x919.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 24px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485.jpg\" alt=\"Granite\" class=\"wp-image-5599 lazyload\" width=\"1260\" height=\"1072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485.jpg 2519w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-300x255.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-1024x872.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-768x654.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-1536x1307.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-2048x1743.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-735x626.jpg 735w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-335x285.jpg 335w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-347x295.jpg 347w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-520x443.jpg 520w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-640x545.jpg 640w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-960x817.jpg 960w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485-1080x919.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 24px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_20194485.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-3\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>As I mentioned above, granite is largely defined by a specific mineralogy. All rocks are made from one or more minerals, and in order to fully understand a rock like granite, you have to know what those minerals are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Granite is primarily made from large amounts of quartz and alkali feldspar, with smaller amounts of plagioclase feldspar, mica, and amphibole. The mineral composition of granite consists of 20% to 60% quartz, and 35% to 90% of the total feldspar must be alkali feldspar.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While this definition is very specific, most granite-like rocks do end up falling into this category. Without sophisticated methods for measuring mineral types and percentages it is impractical or impossible for us to determine if a granite-like rock falls into those specific percentage ranges, so it is sufficient to call anything reasonably close a &lsquo;granite&rsquo;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, it is useful to know what some of those closely-related rock types (granitoids) are called and what their mineralogy looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<p><strong>Granitoids are granite-like rocks with slightly varying mineralogies:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/syenite\/\">Syenite<\/a> &ndash;<\/strong> Granitic rock with less quartz<\/li><li><strong>Quartzolite &ndash;<\/strong> Granitic rock consisting almost entirely of quartz<\/li><li><strong>Diorite &ndash;<\/strong> Granitic rock with more plagioclase feldspar<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where Is Granite Found?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Granite is one of the most common igneous rocks found on the surface of the Earth, and is by far the most common rock in the Earth&rsquo;s crust. But as widespread as granite is, you can&rsquo;t find it just anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Granite is most commonly found in mountainous regions where basement rock has been thrust up to the surface, and in areas where erosion has stripped away shallower rock to reveal the granite beneath. It is also common to find granite in riverbeds downstream from large granitic exposures.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because granite forms beneath the surface of the earth, the vast majority of it isn&rsquo;t visible or accessible to us. But, through the tremendous mountain-building power of plate tectonics, large mountain ranges of granite are fairly common throughout the world. Granite is thrust upwards to the surface to form impressive mountains which endure for millions of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Granite is composed of relatively hard minerals (quartz and feldspar) which make it incredibly durable. Once it is exposed on the surface it takes a long time for it to break down. Pieces of granite can survive in a river for great distances, which is why it&rsquo;s so common to find granite down river from its source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the United States, granite is most often found in mountainous regions like the Rockies and Appalachians, plus the ancient batholiths in the Midwest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Does Granite Form?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We&rsquo;ve learned all about what granite looks like, what it is composed of and generally where it&rsquo;s found, but I have only briefly touched on how it&rsquo;s actually formed. The creation of granite is a fascinating process that always follows a few simple rules but can vary significantly in the details, which is the reason granite can look so different from one sample to another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Granite forms from the slow cooling of felsic, silica-rich magma beneath the Earth&rsquo;s surface. The felsic magma intrudes into shallower rock where it gradually cools, allowing the formation of relatively large crystals of quartz, feldspar, and accessory minerals like amphibole and mica.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because the composition of the source magma is never exactly the same from one granite to another and the surrounding environment is always different, there can be quite a lot of variation in how the magma cools and the crystals form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the surrounding rock is relatively cool then the crystals formed on the edges of the igneous intrusion are likely to be smaller. Similarly, if the intrusion is very large then the crystals in the center of the magma body are likely to become very large because they have such a long time to cool down and crystalize. Those exceptionally large crystals give some types of granite a <strong>pegmatitic <\/strong>texture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the individual crystals of granite&rsquo;s various minerals cool down, they eventually run into each other and they run out of room. Crystallization will continue until all of the magma is solidified, leaving behind interlocking crystals with virtually no porosity between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because granite forms as one solid mass, it contains no internal structures like bedding or banding. It looks the same from all directions and you can&rsquo;t tell which direction was &lsquo;up&rsquo; at the time of crystallization. This is called a &lsquo;massive&rsquo; rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Granite Used For?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Granite Countertop with visible quartz, feldspar, and accessory minerals.\" class=\"wp-image-5601\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-735x490.jpg 735w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-335x223.jpg 335w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-347x231.jpg 347w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-520x347.jpg 520w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-1080x720.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 24px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Granite Countertop with visible quartz, feldspar, and accessory minerals.\" class=\"wp-image-5601 lazyload\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-735x490.jpg 735w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-335x223.jpg 335w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-347x231.jpg 347w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-520x347.jpg 520w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-1080x720.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 24px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dreamstime_l_163579288-scaled.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-4\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption>Granite Countertop with Clearly Visible Quartz, Feldspar, and Accessory Minerals<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Chances are you are fairly familiar with what granite looks like because it is used so prevalently in modern life. Granite has been in use for thousands of years because of its durability, strength, prevalence, and striking appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Granite is most commonly used for interior and exterior building applications. Highly polished granite is an extremely popular material for countertops, while rough-cut granite is one of the most prevalent components of buildings, bridges, and other structures.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like most rocks, granite is very strong in compression. This means it can withstand a great deal of &lsquo;squeezing&rsquo; without breaking, making it ideal for use in construction projects with large overburden stresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What really sets granite apart is its ability to accept a polish and its resistance to weathering. The highly polished granite countertops you&rsquo;re used to seeing are made possible by the fact that quartz and feldspar are easily brought to a high shine. One of the biggest reasons granite is so popular as a building material is because it doesn&rsquo;t break down in the rain, ice, and wind as easily as other rocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<p>This article is part of my rock identification series. To learn more about identifying rocks, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/how-to-identify-your-rocks-full-guide-with-helpful-tools\/\">check out my full in-depth guide here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Granite is one of the most commonly found rocks in many areas of the world. Because of its innate strength, beauty, and variety, it is also one of the most popular rocks for amateur collectors and for decorative use in building. Many similar rock types are often described as &lsquo;granite&rsquo; but there is actually a &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6302,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":"","disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"","disable-critical-css":false},"categories":[35],"tags":[37],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite.jpg",1024,743,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite-300x218.jpg",300,218,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite-768x557.jpg",768,557,true],"large":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite.jpg",1024,743,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite.jpg",1024,743,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite-480x270.jpg",480,270,true],"mv_trellis_1x1":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite-720x720.jpg",720,720,true],"mv_trellis_3x4":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite-540x720.jpg",540,720,true],"mv_trellis_3x4_high_res":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite-540x720.jpg",540,720,true],"mv_trellis_3x4_med_res":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite-360x480.jpg",360,480,true],"mv_trellis_3x4_low_res":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite-240x320.jpg",240,320,true],"mv_trellis_4x3":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite-720x540.jpg",720,540,true],"mv_trellis_16x9":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite-720x405.jpg",720,405,true],"mv_trellis_srcset-960":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite-960x697.jpg",960,697,true],"mv_trellis_srcset-1080":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite.jpg",1024,743,false],"1200x1200":["https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Granite.jpg",1024,743,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Mike Rhea","author_link":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/author\/mikerhea22gmail-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Granite is one of the most commonly found rocks in many areas of the world. Because of its innate strength, beauty, and variety, it is also one of the most popular rocks for amateur collectors and for decorative use in building. Many similar rock types are often described as &lsquo;granite&rsquo; but there is actually a&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5318"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5318"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5318\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6776,"href":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5318\/revisions\/6776"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rockhoundresource.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}