GraniteGranite is a common and widely-occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock that has crystallized from a molten magma below the surface of the Earth.
Granites are usually a white or buff color and are medium to coarse grained, occasionally with some individual crystals larger than the groundmass forming a rock known as porphyry. Granites can be pink to dark gray or even black, depending on their chemistry and mineralogy.
Granite is nearly always very hard and tough, and it is for this reason it has gained widespread use as a construction stone.
The average density of granite is 2.75 g/cm3; with a range of 1.74 to 2.80.
The word granite comes from the Latin granum, a grain, in reference to the coarse-grained structure of such a crystalline rock.
Modern UsesGranite has been extensively used as a dimension stone and as flooring tiles in public and commercial buildings and monuments. With increasing amounts of acid rain in parts of the world, granite has begun to supplant marble as a monument material, since it is much more durable. Polished granite has been a popular choice for kitchen countertops due to its high durability and aesthetic qualities.
ColorsGranite is formed in a large variety of colors. Different colors in granite is a result of the different mineral content. There are over 150 colors commercially available for kitchen countertops and vanities. The following pictures illustrate some examples of some common granite types. |
