What is granite?

Granite is a strong and pretty rock that you can find under the ground or even on mountain tops.

Imagine you have a big box full of different kinds of building blocks, some are white, some are black, and some are pink. Now, imagine someone takes those blocks and mixes them really well, then squishes them together with a lot of heat and pressure. That's kind of what happens to make granite!

How It Feels

If you touch granite, it feels like a hard, smooth cookie, not soft or squishy like playdough, but more like the floor in your kitchen. You can find it on the ground, in rocks, and even sometimes in your home, like in countertops or floors.

Where It Comes From

Granite forms deep inside the Earth, where it's hot and tight, just like when you press a cookie into a pan to make it flat and firm. Over time, it slowly cools down and becomes the strong rock we know as granite.

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Examples

  1. A child sees a mountain and wonders what makes it look so strong.
  2. A kitchen counter made of granite is said to be very durable.
  3. Granite is used in buildings because it doesn’t wear away easily.

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Categories: Science · rock· geology· earth science