What
Is Granite ?
Granite is formed deep below the surface of the earth, possibly
at a depth of 30 miles. The Igneous rock is the result of
mounting building forces and of plate tectonics. The pressure
and friction of one plate running over another plate creates
a meltdown zone. Molten rock at this depth will be pushed
upward toward the earth's surface.
This creates some volcanoes and some granite magma chambers.
The volcanoes lava will not make granite because it will
cool to quickly. It is in the magma chambers that a slow
cool down of melted rock will allow for the development
of larger crystals. And it is in the magma chambers that
the forces of extreme heat, steam, great pressure, and vast
amounts of time produce granite.
The magma chamber may take millions of years to cool, creating
fantastic crystals, beautiful colors, and visual movement.
Granite is composed of quartz, potassium feldspar and sodium
feldspar, as well as the mirror constituents of Muscovite,
Biotite and Amphibole (the last two being dark silicates).
As more millions of years pass the magma chamber inches
its way upward where it may finally be exposed as an outcropping
or a mountain.
Because granite is so weather resistant it often appears
on the surface on the core of a mountain that has eroded
away. Examples of exposed granite would be Pike's Peek,
Mount Rushmore or Yosemite National Park. Most magma chambers
never make it to the surface. As granite is nearly as hard
as diamond it takes a diamond to cut it. |
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Black
Zimbabwe
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Impala
Black
S. Africa |
San
Gabriel /
Brazilian Black
Brazil
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| Galaxy
India
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Blue
Bahia
Brazil
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Blue
Pearl GT
Norway |
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| Crema
Bahia
Bahia |
Blue
Eyes
Canada |
Sapphire
Blue/Brown
India |
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| Sodalite
Blue
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Baltic
Brown
Finland |
Cafe
Bahia /
New Imperial
Brown Brazil
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| Cafe
Imperial /
Brown Pearl
Brazil
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Dakota
Mahogany
USA
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Oriental
Brown /
Amazon Star
Brazil |
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| Tropic
Brown
Saudi Arabia |
Amadeus
Finland |
Giallo
California
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| Giallo
Light /
New Venetian Gold
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Giallo
Veneziano
Brazil |
Gold
Carioca
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| Gold
Himalaya/
Giallo Antico
Brazil
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Golden
Leaf
Saudi Arabia
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Butterfly
Green |
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| Emerald
Pearl
Norway |
Silver
Sea Green
Saudi Arabia |
Esmeralda |
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Tropical
Violet
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Verde
Ubatuba |
Green
Maritaca
Brazil |
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Juparana
Classico |
Juparana
Santa
Cecilia Brazil
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Juparana
Fantastico
Brazil |
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Kinawa
Classic
Brazil |
Paradiso
India |
Rosa
Beta
Italy
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| Rosa
Porrino
Spain
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Violetta
Saudi Arabia |
Gray
Sardo/
Luna Pearl
Italy |
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Kashmir
White
India |
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Granite
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