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Granite ( / ˈɡrænɪt / GRAN-it) is a coarse-grained ( phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies underground.
Apr 11, 2024 · Granite, coarse- or medium-grained intrusive igneous rock that is rich in quartz and feldspar; it is the most common plutonic rock of the Earth’s crust, forming by the cooling of magma (silicate melt) at depth. Learn more about the properties and uses of granite in this article.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Jan 13, 2019 · A light-colored, coarse-grained rock with a random arrangement of minerals—that's what most amateurs mean by "granite." Ordinary people and even rockhounds agree. Geologists, however, are professional students of rocks, and what you would call granite they call granitoid.
- Andrew Alden
Mar 15, 2014 · By 4.55 billion years ago, the Earth had taken shape, its core molten from the leftover energy of the planet’s formation. Denser elements like iron sunk deep into the center of earth, while the lighter elements (like those that make up granite) slowly cooled into a crusty surface layer.
May 23, 2017 · Granite forms from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. It is composed mainly of natural quartz and feldspar with subtle amounts of mica, amphiboles, and other organic minerals. In short, your granite kitchen countertops were molten lava at one point.
As a result of wide experiences, prolonged study, and many conferences I am convinced that granites, strictly defined, form by cooling of granite magma, by metasomatic replacement of other rocks, and possibly by some intermediate action or mixture of the two processes.
May 1, 2023 · When did people first start using granite and quartz in construction? The use of granite and quartz dates back thousands of years, with examples from ancient Egypt, Rome, and China showcasing their use in monumental structures and decorative arts. What is engineered quartz and how is it made?
