Uses of Granite

Granite is one of the most common rocks that is known to human beings and is used quite extensively in our lives. It is classified as a form of igneous rock. Granite uses vary drastically in our world, but due to its extreme strength, it is used a lot. As far as the appearance of this rock is considered, it has quite a grainy surface that is large enough to be seen by the naked eye. So, to proceed with discussing the several uses of this stone, let us take a look at its other fundamental properties. 

How is Granite Formed?

Granite is an igneous rock, which means that it is formed when the magma of the volcano oxidises and then begins to slowly solidify under the ground. Since magma contains a variety of minerals and chemicals, various reactions lead to the formation of various kinds of igneous rocks. 

In the case of granite, the rock is made up mostly of quartz, with variable amounts of plagioclase and feldspar. When the magma of the volcano forms, silica (in high content) along with the oxides of alkali metals gradually solidify and lead to forming the granite stone. It is found mostly in the earth’s continental crust. 

Granite Properties 

The Physical Properties of this Stone are:

• It has very dense silica content. Since the rock is made largely of silica from magma, it contains a large amount of silica. 

• Due to the large presence of silica in its composition, granite is highly resistant to decay. 

• Granite is an easily quarried stone. This is due to the presence of a mural joint. 

• Similar to the quarrying, the rift and the grain that are present in abundance in granite make its dressing easy for utilising in various purposes. 

• The igneous property of granite makes it incredibly polishable for construction purposes as a polished and hard surface can last relatively longer than other stones. 

• Granite offers a reasonable resistance to fire due to the presence of fewer minerals. 

• Similarly, Granite also offers a reasonable resistance to frost due to the presence of fewer minerals

• Granite is relatively free from fractures. 

The Chemical Properties of this Stone are: 

• Granite is an example of igneous rock and it, therefore, contains the most amount of silica in its core component that is made up of 70 to 77 % of silica. 

• Alumina is also present in granite in 11 to 14 % of its chemical composition.

• Potassium oxide and soda make up about 3 to 5 % of their composition. 

•  Granite contains lime in about 1 % of its composition. 

• Other components such as iron oxides, magnesium, titanium and water are also contained in this rock in variable quantities ranging from 1 % to 0.03 %.

Structure of Granite Molecule

The molecular structure of granite is as follows:

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Granite Rock Uses 

The resistible and hard surface of granite garners a lot of usage of the rock from humans both because of its sturdy nature and its shiny and polished appearance that is achieved very easily. So, to begin with, the uses of this stone are as follows: 

1. Kitchen Uses: 

Granite is the most used in the kitchen of houses as kitchen countertops. Due to their polished and shiny appearance, they are used extensively in kitchens as countertops, backsplashes, etc., around the world. 

2. Construction Uses: 

Granite buildings have also been observed to have a place in a lot of societies since the middle ages. Due to the sturdy nature of the stone and its frost and fire resistance, granite was and is still sometimes used to build buildings all around the world. Other than that, granite can also be used as a decorative stone to adorn the appearance of a building. 

3. Flooring Uses: 

Granite flooring is also very prevalent in the world. Due to their strength and appearance, they are used in abundance in flooring, tiling, etc. 

4. Miscellaneous Uses: 

Apart from the aforementioned uses, granite is also used in road making, where laying a base of granite gives the road required strength, they are also used in hanging bridges as reinforcement blocks to stand the weight of the bridge, etc. 

Did You Know? 

• The Black Hills of South Dakota depicting the former four US presidents is carved on granite. 

• Granite is the main component in the Earth’s continental crust.

There are various types of granite stone namely, Santa (St.) Cecilia granite, Uba Tuba granite, Kashmir White granite, (New) Venetian Gold granite, Giallo Ornamental granite, Tan Brown granite, Baltic Brown granite, Volga Blue granite, Black Galaxy granite, Bianco Antico granite, Black Pearl granite, and Absolute Black granite. As the names suggest, the categorization is done mainly based on colours which vary depending on the amount of these minerals in the granite stone: quartz, feldspar, potassium feldspar, biotite, muscovite, and amphibole. 

Types of Granite

There are various types of granite stone namely, Santa (St.) Cecilia granite, Uba Tuba granite, Kashmir White granite, (New) Venetian Gold granite, Giallo Ornamental granite, Tan Brown granite, Baltic Brown granite, Volga Blue granite, Black Galaxy granite, Bianco Antico granite, Black Pearl granite, and Absolute Black granite. As the names suggest, the categorisation is done mainly based on colours which vary depending on the amount of these minerals in the granite stone: quartz, feldspar, potassium feldspar, biotite, muscovite, and amphibole. 

Granite is a light-coloured igneous rock having grains that are large enough for the naked eye to see. It forms below the surface of the earth by the slow crystallisation of magma. Granite is majorly composed of minerals like quartz and feldspar with minor amounts of mica, amphiboles, and other minerals. This mineral composition is responsible for the red, pink, grey, or white colour of granite with dark mineral grains visible throughout the rock.

Granite is one of the most recognized igneous rocks. Many people are familiar with granite because it is the most common igneous rock found on Earth's surface and is used to make many objects that they encounter in their day to day life. It is used to make countertops, floor tiles, paving stone, curbing, stair treads, building veneer, and cemetery monuments. Granite is used all around us - especially in building the infrastructure of modern-day cities.

Slow crystallisation of magma below the earth's surface leads to the formation of granite rock. The large mineral crystals that are visible in the rock proves that it cooled slowly from the molten rock material. The slow cooling process had to have occurred beneath Earth's surface and required a long period of time to occur. The presence of the rock at the earth's surface today indicates that the granite rocks were uplifted and the overlying rocks were eroded over time.