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Granite

(Science: geology) a crystalline, granular rock, consisting of quartz, feldspar, and mica, and usually of a whitish, grayish, or flesh-red colour. It differs from gneiss in not having the mica in planes, and therefor in being destitute of a schistose structure.

varieties containing hornblende are common. See also the note under mica. Gneissoid granite, granite in which the mica has traces of a regular arrangement. Graphic granite, granite consisting of quartz and feldspar without mica, and having the quartz crystals so arranged in the transverse section like oriental characters. Porphyritic granite, granite containing feldspar in distinct crystals. Hornblende granite, or Syenitic granite, granite containing hornblende as well as mica, or, according to some authorities hornblende replacing the mica. Granite ware. A kind of stoneware. A kind of ironware, coated with an enamel resembling granite.

Origin: It. Granito granite, adj, grainy, p. P. Of granire to make grainy, fr. L. Granum grain; cf. F. Granit. See grain.