• Question: What type of rock is granite?

    Asked by Elizabeth to Hephzi, Imogen, Jen, Jennifer, Tom on 10 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Thomas Barrett

      Thomas Barrett answered on 10 Mar 2015:

      Granite or Granitoid is a general, descriptive field term for lighter-colored, coarse-grained igneous rocks (which means it forms from magma). It’s main minerals are Quartz (SiO2 so similar to glass), Plagioclase, Feldspar and a few minor minerals. There are lots of different sub groups of granite but I wont get into those here 😛

      It usually formed underground in the Earths crust. Big granite intrusions are usually found near mountain ranges.

    • Photo: Imogen Napper

      Imogen Napper answered on 10 Mar 2015:

      Granite is an igneous rock, which means that it is cooled from magma (very hot liquid rock available below the surface). Both are made up of minerals from the silicate group, so both have large amounts of silicon and oxygen.

      Granite can be used in so many things! A kitchen worktop springs to my mind 😀 !

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