2. GRANITE
Granite is the most well-known
igneous rock
characterized by its course,
grainy appearance (Granite,
2014).
The “granular” appearance
comes from the formation of
small crystals that can be
seen within the rock (The
Rock).
It is typically light in color due
to the presence of high levels
of feldspar minerals (Ouzts,
2014).
Above photos from http://geology.com/rocks/granite.shtml
3. HOW IT’S FORMED
Granite is an intrusive igneous
rock, meaning it is formed from
the cooling of magma deep
beneath the Earth’s surface that
results in crystallization and
solidification (Pidwirny, 2013).
The temperature at which this
cooling occurrs defines the
minerals present in and thus
the type of rock that is formed.
The amount of silica present in
granite demands a low
temperatures for cooling
(Pidwirny, 2013).
Photo from https://sites.google.com/site/ggvogel/granite
4. HOW IT’S FORMED
The large, visible mineral crystals in the rock
show that the cooling of magma beneath the
surface had to have happened slowly over a
long period of time (What is granite?)
Because it is formed so deep within the Earth,
granite can be found below even large amounts
of sedimentary rocks covering the Earth’s
surface (What is granite?)
5. COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE
Granite is an igneous
rock formed from a
magma that is
particularly high in its
amounts of sodium,
aluminum, and
potassium and are
composed of more than
65% silica, called felsic
magma. Rocks formed
from felsic magma
(Pidwirny, 2013).
Granite has a high silica
content and is made up
mostly of quartz and
feldspar (Granite &
Pidwirny).
Photo from
http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/51cbee337896bb431f69619f/
6. WHERE IS GRANITE FOUND?
Because granite is usually found in
continental crust, most of North America
has granite underneath its surface. There
is an extensive region in eastern Canada
made up of massive granite called the
Canadian Shield or the Precambrian
Shield (Granite).
Photo from
http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC2ERZT_minerals-in-the-shield
Granite is found in Canada, India, Brazil, China,
Finland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Namibia,
Zimbabwe, and South Africa just to list a few
(Granite).
Photo from http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/minerals/granite-mines-
map.html
Photo from http://www.verite.org/Commodities/Granite
7. WHERE IS GRANITE FOUND?
Granite is found and produced in great
quantity in the New England areas
including New Hampshire, Vermont,
Main, North Carolina, and Georgia as
well as in some parts of the Southwest
(Granite).
Elberton, Georgia has come to be
known as the Granite Capital of the
World as it mines and produces
granite products to be shipped all
over the world from its position in the
Piedmont region of the state (Ouzts,
2014).
Photo from
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/science-medicine/granite
Photo from
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/11septoct/06.cfm
8. FAMOUS GRANITE IN NATURE
Pike’s Peak in Colorado Stone Mountain in Georgia
Yosemite Valley in California
Photo from http://geology.com/rocks/granite.shtml
Photo from http://geology.com/rocks/granite.shtml
Photo from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stone_mountain_closer_up.jpg
Photo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannon_Mountain_(New_Hampshire)
Photo from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikes_Peak
9. COMMON USES
Granite is a frequently used
dimension stone, making it
commonly used in building
and supporting structures
(Granite).
It is also used as a crushed
stone because of its great
abundance in the United
States and used in road
construction and foundational
filler (Geology).
Photo from http://geology.com/rocks/granite.shtml
It is frequently selected and
thought of as a prestigious
material due to its practicality
and beauty when polished
despite its high market prices
(Geology).
Photo from http://gagesgranite.wordpress.com/2008/09/
10. REFERENCES
Granite. (2014). Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on September 27, 2014 from
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/241660/granite
Granite. Minerals Education Coalition. Retrieved on September 27, 2014 from
http://www.mineralseducationcoalition.org/minerals/granite
Granite: What is granite? What is granite used for? Retrieved on September 27, 2014
from http://geology.com/rocks/granite.shtml
The rock—Granite. Mineral Gallery. Retrieved on September 27, 2014 from
http://www.galleries.com/rocks/granite.htm
Ouzts, C. (2014). Granite. New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved on September 29, 2014
from http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/science-medicine/granite
Pidwirny, M. (2013). Igneous rock. The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved on September
27, 2014 from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/51cbee337896bb431f69619f/
Vogel, G. (2006). Big granite boulder. Retrieved on September 28, 2014 from
https://sites.google.com/site/ggvogel/granite
