Where is Black Granite found?
Granite (mafic variety)
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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
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Known for large gabbroic intrusions and associated ore deposits.
Stillwater Complex, Montana, USA
A large layered mafic intrusion, source of various 'black granites'.
Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa
One of the largest layered intrusions globally, containing vast amounts of gabbro and norite.
India (various states)
Significant producer of commercial 'black granites' (gabbros, dolerites) for dimension stone.
China (various provinces)
Major source of commercial 'black granites' for construction and monumental uses.
Collecting tips
- Geological Maps. Consult regional geological maps to identify areas with known mafic intrusions (gabbro, diabase) or volcanic fields (basalt).
- Road Cuts and Quarries. Excellent places to observe fresh exposures of bedrock. Commercial quarries specifically target these rocks for dimension stone.
- River Beds and Glacial Till. Mafic rocks are durable and can be found as cobbles and boulders in riverbeds or as erratics in glaciated regions.
- Field Identification. Look for dark, dense, coarse-grained (for plutonic types) rocks. A hand lens can help identify individual mineral grains like dark pyroxene/amphibole and lighter plagioclase.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Dark gray to black
- Luster:
- Vitreous to sub-vitreous (on fresh surfaces), highly reflective (when polished)
- Streak:
- White to very light gray (due to plagioclase, though mafic minerals are dark, their streak is often light or absent on unglazed porcelain)
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