Granite
About Granite
Granite is the most widespread of the igneous rocks, which lie at the base of most of the continental crust. Intrusive rocks are formed from molten material (magma) that flows and solidifies underground, where the magma slowly cools. Eventually, the overlying rocks are removed, revealing granite. Granites usually have a rough texture, because the magma slowly cools underground, allowing for greater crystal growth.
Granites are most easily characterized as light-colored and coarse-grained as a result of light cooling below the surface. Color variation is a response to the percentage of each mineral found in a sample. Granite crystals provide a variety of mixed colors – feldspar (pink or red), mica (dark brown or black), quartz (clear pink, white or black) and amphibole (black).
