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Type of Rock and how it forms:
Granite is an igneous rock. Igneous rocks form when magma crystallizes. This can happen underground (intrusive igneous rocks), generally giving rise to big crystals because crystallization is slower, or above ground (extrusive igneous rocks) which produces rocks with fine crystals or glass like appearance. Granite is intrusive, it is formed underground.
Check out the video about the mineral ingredients of granite.
Minerals in granite and variations in appearance:
Granite comes in many different shades of pink, grey, and white. The colors variations are result from the elements present. Pink granite has more potassium for example which shows up as large pink feldspar crystal. White/light grey crystals are quartz. The black crystals are the biotite (a mica), and there may be specs of black hornblende. The size of the crystals in granite also vary. The bigger they are, the deeper the rock formed underground- it took longer to cool and therefore crystals had more time to grow.
Where granite is found in NC:
In many counties such as: Avery, Mitchell, Rowan, Surry, Watauga, Wake, Davidson and Iredell Counties. The granite quarry in Mt. Airy, NC is the largest open-faced granite quarry in the world.
Uses of granite:
Gravestones and memorials, buildings, kitchen counters, floor tiles and rock climbing!
Sources: Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3
Fun Facts
Rock climbers love granite because of its sturdiness and cracks.
The first commercial railroad (which was found in MA) was made for transporting granite.
The platform on which the Statue of Liberty stands is made of granite.
New Hampshire is known as the “Granite State”.
Granite is the official state rock of not only New Hampshire, but also: North Carolina, South Carolina (blue granite), Wisconsin (red granite) and Vermont.
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