Properties of Granite

Granite is a type of igneous rock that forms from the slow crystallization of molten magma deep within the Earth's crust. It is composed mainly of three minerals: quartz, feldspar, and mica, along with various other minerals and trace elements. Granite is known for its durability, hardness, and distinctive granular appearance, which consists of interlocking mineral grains.

Image of an granite rock
Credit: Eurico Zimbres FGEL/UERJ, CC BY-SA 2.0 BR, via Wikimedia Commons

The following table provides a list of granite properties in both SI and US customary/Imperial units at normal temperature and pressure (NTP).

Click on the icon to switch between Metric and Imperial units.

Table of Granite Properties
Physical Properties
Metric
Density2640 - 2760 kg/m3
Porosity0.1 - 4%
Mechanical PropertiesMetric
Young’s Modulus (E)40 - 70 GPa
Tensile Strength7 - 25 MPa
Compressive Strength96 - 310 MPa
Modulus of Rupture10 - 20 MPa
Hardness (Mohs)5 - 7
Thermal PropertiesMetric
Thermal Conductivity1.2 - 4.2 W/m·K
Specific Heat Capacity (Cp)775 - 837 J/kg·K
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (αL)6×10-6 - 2×10-5 1/°C
Electrical PropertiesMetric
Electrical Resistivity104 - 109 Ω·cm

Unless stated otherwise, all values are taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atm pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)

References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017. 3) A.M. Howatson, P.G. Lun, J.D. Todd, P.D. Engineering Tables and Data. United Kingdom: University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science, 2009. 4) Stone: Building Stone, Rock Fill and Armourstone in Construction. United Kingdom: Geological Society, 1999.