Granite is a coarse-grained igneous rock composed chiefly of quartz, feldspar and mica, valued in construction for its exceptional hardness, durability and resistance to weathering. Its hardness makes it more difficult to carve than limestone or marble, so historic use favored large dressed blocks for foundations, monuments and load-bearing walls, while modern quarrying and polishing techniques have made it a common thin veneer for cladding, flooring and countertops. Color varies widely by mineral content and quarry, from pink and red to gray and black, and its low porosity gives it strong resistance to staining and frost damage, making it a favored material for exterior use in harsh climates.
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Built from granite blocks quarried on site and shaped with such precision that many walls need no mortar.
The portico stands on sixteen monolithic columns of Egyptian granite, shipped down the Nile and across the Mediterranean.
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Wikimedia FoundationWikipedia: GraniteQuote, Wikipedia: Granite
Granite is a coarse-grained (phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, mica and plagioclase.
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