Where is Black Granite found?
Gabbro or Diorite (commercial granite)
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Open the appBlack Granite occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Black Granite
Scandinavia (e.g., Sweden, Norway, Finland)
Known for high-quality gabbros and anorthosites, often marketed as 'Black Granite'.
India
Significant producer of various dark igneous rocks, including gabbros and dolerites, used as 'Black Granite'.
South Africa
Home to the Bushveld Igneous Complex, a major source of gabbroic and anorthositic rocks.
Brazil
Produces a range of dark igneous rocks, including gabbros and diorites.
United States (e.g., Minnesota, Wisconsin, Adirondacks)
Local occurrences of gabbro and anorthosite bodies.
Collecting tips
- Geological Maps. Consult geological maps of areas known for intrusive igneous rocks. Look for mapped gabbro, diorite, or anorthosite bodies.
- Outcrop Examination. Examine road cuts, quarries, and eroded riverbeds in geologically appropriate areas. Look for dark, coarse-grained rocks with interlocking crystals.
- Mineral Identification. Identify key mafic minerals like pyroxene (dark, blocky, two cleavages at ~90 degrees), amphibole (dark, prismatic, two cleavages at ~60/120 degrees), and plagioclase feldspar (dark gray to black, often with striations, two cleavages at ~90 degrees).
Quick Check
- Color:
- Very dark gray to black.
- Luster:
- Vitreous to sub-vitreous.
- Streak:
- White to very light gray (due to plagioclase and other lighter minerals, or the streak of individual mafic minerals is dark but diluted by other components).
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