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Granite identification and geology

A coarse-grained phaneritic felsic intrusive igneous rock composed primarily of quartz 20–60% , alkali feldspar, and plagioclase feldspar, with minor amounts of biotite, muscovite, and/or hornblende. Granite is the most abundant rock type in the continental crust and is characterized by high silica content 65% , low density, and excellent durability. It forms the core of many mountain ranges and is widely used as a building and ornamental stone. Field: petrology. Example: The Canadian Shield exposes vast expanses of granite and granodiorite, including the 2.7 billion-year-old granites of the Kenora district that host significant gold mineralization along greenstone belt contacts.. Related terms: Rhyolite, Batholith, Felsic, Quartz.

Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:41.999576+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Granite mean in geology?
A coarse-grained phaneritic felsic intrusive igneous rock composed primarily of quartz 20–60% , alkali feldspar, and plagioclase feldspar, with minor amounts of biotite, muscovite, and/or hornblende. Granite is the most abundant rock type in the continental crust and is characterized by high silica content 65% , low density, and excellent durability. It forms the core of many mountain ranges and is widely used as a building and ornamental stone.
What is an example of Granite?
The Canadian Shield exposes vast expanses of granite and granodiorite, including the 2.7 billion-year-old granites of the Kenora district that host significant gold mineralization along greenstone belt contacts.
Which earth-science field uses the term Granite?
Granite is used in petrology.
Which terms are related to Granite?
Related terms in this reference are Rhyolite, Batholith, Felsic, Quartz.

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