Granite

About Granite

Granite is one of the most durable stones, which has been incorporated well in infrastructures of the present times. The word "Granite" originates from the Latin word 'granum', referring to the coarse-grained structure of this crystalline rock. It is composed of quartz, feldspars and micas, as well as traces of a variety of other minerals, which contribute to the color and texture of natural granite stone. These granite stones are available in pink, dark gray or even black, depending on their chemistry and mineralogy. A broad range of elegant patterns and colors makes granite the most versatile of all stones. The crystal size of the natural granite stone is somewhat determined by the rate at which the granite cools: the slower the cooling process, the larger the crystals grow. Occasionally some individual crystals (phenocrysts) are larger than the ground mass in which the texture is known as porphyritic. Indian Granite Stone is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock with great strength and value. The density of granite is 2.75g/cm3 (avg) and its viscosity at standard temperature & pressure is ~4.5 • 1019 Pa·s. Natural Granite stone is typically the hardest of the dimensional stones and can withstand the vagaries of nature, effectively. The natural properties of this stone makes it the real "maintenance-free" stone.

Occurrence

It is widely spread throughout the continental crust of the Earth and is generously found as a basement rock that underlies in the relatively thin sedimentary veneer. This light colored stone often occurs as relatively small, less as 100 sq. km stock masses (stocks). In batholiths they are often associated with organic mountain ranges. In some areas very coarse-grained pegmatite masses are found with granite. Outcrops of granite usually form into tors, and rounded massifs. Granites also occur in circular depressions that are surrounded by a range of hills and are formed by the metamorphic aureole or hornfels.

Origin

This versatile rock has been intruded into the crust of our planet during all geologic periods, though much of it is of Precambrian age. Granite is an igneous rock which is formed from magma and is currently found only on Earth where it forms a major part of continental crust. Granitic magma has many potential origins but it must intrude other rocks. Most granite intrusions are located deep within the crust, which is usually more than 1.5 kilometers and up to 50 km depth within thick continental crust. Small embankments of granitic composition known as aplites are often affiliated with the margins of granitic intrusions. The origin of granite is contentious and has led to varied schemes of classification. Classification schemes are regional and include French, British, and American systems.

Geochemical Origins

Granite is a ubiquitous component of the crust that has crystallized from magma and has compositions at or near a eutectic point. Magmas evolve to the eutectic owing to the igneous differentiation, or because it represents low degrees of partial melting. Fractional or partial crystallization serves to reduce a melt in iron, titanium, magnesium, sodium and calcium. They also enrich the melt in silicon and potassium, which is and alkali feldspar (rich in potassium) and quartz (SiO2), are the two of the defining constituents of granite.
This process functions is indifferent to the origin of the parental magma and its chemistry. However, the composition of the magma which is different in the final product- granite leaves certain geochemical and mineral evidence as granite's parental rock. The absolute mineralogy, texture and chemical composition of the granite is often unique as its origin. For example, a granite that has been formed from melted sediments may have a larger portion of alkali feldspar, whereas a granite, which has been derived from melted basalt may be richer in plagioclase feldspar.

Granite Physical Properties

Granite rocks are igneous rocks, formed by slowly cooling pockets of magma that were trapped beneath the earth's surface. Physically, commercial granites are hard, compact rocks with fine to coarse grains of metamorphic or igneous origin. In terms of properties granite is a unique material. The properties lending uniqueness to granite are:
Hardness	-	6 to 7 on Moh's Scale
Density	-	2.6 to 2.8 Kg/cm3
Compressive Strength	-	140 to 210 N/mm2
Modulus of Rupture	-	15 to 25 N/mm2
Water Absorption	-	0.1-0.6%
Average Wear	-	Less then 1%

Other Properties of Granite are:

Porosity/permeability
This hard rock has almost negligible porosity ranging between 0.2 to 4%.

Thermal Stability
Granite is highly thermal stability and is impervious to weathering from temperature. Even air borne chemicals have no effect on it. It is highly resistant to chemical erosion making granite useful for making tanks to store highly caustic material.

Co-efficient of expansion
The co-efficient of expansion for granite varies from 4.7x10-6 – 9.0x10-6(inch x inch).

Variegation
Granite has high consistency in color and texture.

Hardness
Hardness of granite lends it excellent wear, making it excellent building stone.

Chemical Composition

The chemical composition of granite, by weight percent:
SiO2	-	72.04% (70-75%)
Al2O3	-	14.42% (10-15%)
K2O	-	4.12% (4-6%)
Na2O	-	3.69%
CaO	-	1.82% (0.5 - 2%)
FeO	-	1.68% (1.5 - 3%)
Fe2O3	-	1.22% (1 - 2%)
MgO	-	0.71% (0.5 - 2%)
TiO2	-	0.30% (0.2-0.5%)
P2O5	-	0.12%
MnO	-	0.05%

Classification

Granite is a common name for all Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks commercially, but geologically “Granite” is a term only for acidic, plutonic Igneous Rock. They can be classified based on Geological and Commercial Value, broadly into three groups.

Genesis - A medium/fine-grained rock of Gneissic structure is available in various colors. Plagioclase, microcline and quartz are the vital minerals, while titanite, biotite, apatite, epidote, zircon and garnet are found in lesser quantities. Small amount of hematite, pyroxene and sericite are also present in this rock, which is of a granitic composition, contains numerous crystallites. Gneisses can be recognized by the wavy patterns or zig zag movements. Others in this category are Paradiso, Kashmir White, Red Multi Color, Madura Gold, Colombo Juprana, Imperial White, Shivakashi Gold, Kuppam Green, Vizag Blue, Lavender Blue, Tropical Green etc.

Porphyry- Some individual crystals known as phenocrysts are bigger than the ground mass, in such cases the texture is known as porphyritic and the granite is called as porphyry. Porphyries are granites which have dominant Feldspar Crystal or Flowers. Tan Brown, Sapphire Blue, Crystal Yellow, Steel Grey, Ruby Red, Cats eye belong to this class.

Dyke- Dykes are the Black Granites, which commonly occurs as Dolerite Dykes. The Black Granites which form a Ring Dyke is a classic example of the Dyke. Other Black Granites or Dykes include Absolute Black in Warangal, Chamrajnagar and other places.

Granite is classified on the basis of the QAPF diagram for coarse grained plutonic rocks (granitoids). They are named according to the percentage of quartz, alkali feldspar (orthoclase, sanidine, or microcline) and plagioclase feldspar on the A-Q-P half of the diagram. A pure granite according to modern petrologic convention consists of both plagioclase and alkali feldspars. When a granite is devoid or nearly bereft of plagioclase, it is referred to as alkali granite. When a granitoid contains <10% of orthoclase it is called tonalite; pyroxene and amphibole are common in tonalite. A granite which contains both muscovite and biotite micas is known as binary or two-mica granite. These granites typically have high quantities of potassium and are low in plagioclase. They are usually S or A-type granites. The volcanic equivalent of plutonic granite is rhyolite. Granite has poor primary permeability but strong secondary permeability.

Application

Granite is widely used as a dimension stone and as flooring tiles in
commercial buildings, monuments as well as private houses. Owing to its strength, it is also used as
foundations for homes in various countries. With an increase in the number of acid rain in many
parts of the world, this rock has begun to supplant marble as a monument material a sit is much more
durable. Refined or polished granite is also a popular choice for kitchen counter tops due to its
requirement of low maintenance and aesthetic properties. In such cases, "granite" is a common term
for all igneous rocks with large crystals, and not specifically to those with a granitic
composition. Granite Tiles also finds application for gravestones, memorials and other artifacts.
Engineers generally use polished granite surfaces to establish a plane of reference, as they are
relatively impervious and inflexible.


Absolute Black	Black Galaxy	Colombo Juprana	Giblee	Golden Juprana

Hassan Green	Imperial White	Indian Juprana	Jhansi Red	Kashmir White

Kashmir Gold	Kuppam Green	Lady Dream	Lakha Red	Lavender Blue

Madurai Gold	Merry Gold	Paradiso Classic	Red Multi Color	Rose Wood

Sadarhally Grey	Sapphire Brown	Shiva Gold	Shivakashi Yellow	Steel Grey

Tropical Green	Tumkur Parphory	Visaq Blue	S White Granite	Maliwada Granite

Tiger Skin Granite	Alaska White	Amba White Granite	Apple Green Granite	Astoria Gold Granite

Bala Flower Granite	Bash Paradisso	Black Markino Granite	Black Forest Granite	Black Pearl Granite

Blue Dunes Granite	Chima Pink Granite	Coffee Brown Granite	Colonial Cream Granite	Colonial Gold Granite

Copper Silk Granite	Crystal Yellow Granite	Desert Brown Granite	French White Granite	Himalayan Blue Granite

Impala Black Granite	Imperial Pink Granite	Ivory Brown Granite	Ivory Chiffon Granite	Ivory Gold Granite

Jet Black Granite	Imperial Gold Granite	Jubilee Grey Granite	Koliwada Granite	Kotkasta Granite

Merry Gold Granite	Mokalsar Green Granite	Moon White Granite	Narlai grey granite	New Imperial Red Granite

Nova Black Granite	Onida Orange Granite	P White Granite	Prada Gold Granite	Rajasthan Black Granite

Red Multicolour Granite	River White Granite	Red Smoka Granite	Rosy Pink granite	Royal Cream Granite

Strawberry Pink Granite	Tan Brown Granite	Titanium White Granite	Thunder White Granite	Viscon White Granite

Vizag Blue Granite	Z Brown Granite	Golden Trauma

Granite

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