Granite stone description for children 2. Granite: what kind of stone is it, what does it consist of and where is it used? How to distinguish natural granite from artificial

As stones with magical properties, it is customary to see precious or semiprecious stones in the form of rings, pendants, figurines or geodes. Granite is completely different. It does not make decoration, it is associated with monuments and majestic buildings. Meanwhile, he also has magic power and can be used as a talisman.

Translated from Latin, "granite" means "grain". This describes its structure. Granite really consists of grains of various minerals. In modern geology, it is customary to attribute a mineral with the following composition to granite:

• the proportion of feldspars is 60% of the rock;
• quartz - 30%;
• – 5-10%.

Sometimes, along with feldspar, granite includes hornblende, biotite,. Depending on the composition, the color of granite may vary. Most often it is a gray stone with darker inclusions, but red, brown, pink, yellow, green granite is found. Quartz in the composition of granite looks like glassy transparent grains from 2 to 25 mm. At a certain angle of view, they give the stone a shimmering sheen. Less common are varieties with inclusions, which colors the entire mass of feldspar.

Stone characteristics:

Due to its characteristics and prevalence in nature, granite is widely used in construction and manufacturing. A large number of varieties gives scope for the imagination of designers.

Application of granite

Granite is not afraid of exposure to acids and salts, so this stone can be used in the chemical industry. A small coefficient of water absorption makes granite an indispensable material for facing pools, fountains, embankments. Due to the frost resistance of granite, it is a material for exterior decoration of buildings. Granite wears out a little, so it is used in interior decoration of premises with high traffic, it is also a material for road construction. Here are just some examples of its use:

• columns;
• monuments;
• parapets;
• paving stones, curbs;
• floor tiles;
• wall panels;
• steps of stairs;
• window sills;
• countertops;
• vases;
• cornices;
• details of production machines;
• millstone;
• bases of high-precision instruments;
• material for railway embankments.

Granite is subject to weathering and melts at temperatures above 700 degrees. But meanwhile, many granite monuments of architecture of a thousand years ago have come down to us: ancient Egyptian, ancient Roman, Greek structures. Many have not survived to this day, destroyed by wars and natural disasters.

An example of millennial granite structures:

• Stonehenge. Its stones weigh over 50 tons;
• the obelisk of Hatshepsut, weighing 343 tons;
• Escorial Spanish Monastery.

During the reign of Peter I, mining, and other stones reached its peak. During the construction of St. Petersburg, granite was mainly used. "The Neva dressed in granite." These are the buildings of the Academy of Arts, the Stock Exchange, the Admiralty, St. Isaac's Cathedral.

Granite can be mined in huge multi-ton arrays. For example, the pedestal of the statue of the Bronze Horseman in its original form had a weight of 2,000 tons or the Alexandrian Column, which in its raw form was a stone more than 30 meters high.

How granite is mined

The only disadvantage of granite is the complexity of mining and processing. The stone is polished exclusively with tools. It remains a mystery how huge stones were previously mined for the construction of majestic palaces.

There is an assumption that in ancient times the stones were separated from the array with copper saws using as an abrasive. Modern experiments prove that this is possible. Although there are opponents of this theory. They argue that the nature of the marks on the stones suggests that tools similar to modern diamond cutters were used. But archaeological excavations do not confirm this theory. Scientists have found only the simplest tools.

In the times of Peter the Great, recesses were drilled in the base of the massif to separate granite blocks, and columns were hammered into them. The work was done up to the first vertical crack. Then mines were drilled in the stone for laying gunpowder. The explosion broke off the plate. In the same way, the stone was broken into smaller pieces.

Now the extraction of stone is carried out in a similar way. Holes up to 7 meters deep are drilled in the massif, explosives are laid in them, with the help of which the plate breaks off.

How granite is formed

This question has been the subject of discussion for a long time.

Development of theories:

1. In the 18th century it was believed that granite is the deposition of crystals on the seabed.
2. In the 19th century, they began to believe that granite is magma, which, rising to the surface, captures and sinters other minerals, cools down and crystallizes.
3. In the 20th century, another theory was added to the previous one. Granite is the result of hot springs that erode and transform rocks. Some components are washed out, others crystallize and sinter.

Now the last two theories are being developed. It is generally accepted that they both have the right to exist. Part of the granite massifs was formed by magmatic method, part by granitization.

Granite deposits

Now granitic rocks lie close to the surface of the earth's crust and less often on the ocean floor. Their formation took place throughout the history of the earth. The oldest samples date back to 3.8 Ga.

Initially, feldspar was deposited far from the surface, at a depth of 10-15 km. But gradually the sedimentary rocks were eroded and weathered, due to which the granite slabs were exposed.

Granite makes up 77% of all igneous rocks near the earth's surface. Its deposits are different. These are small veins of 1-10 meters or huge layers that make up entire granite belts. The maximum depth of such formations is unknown. For example, in Peru, a layer of granite is exposed for 4 km, but this is not the limit.

Granite is currently being developed in many countries. The most famous:

1. In Russia, these are the Khabarovsk Territory, Primorye, Transbaikalia, and the Urals. It is mined here, gray and Brown. In the Leningrad region, Karelia, on the Kola Peninsula, deposits of pink, red and. Gray-pink granite is found in the Murmansk region.
2. Ukraine is famous.
3. In Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Rare green-blue granite is mined here.
4. Europe: Bulgaria, Portugal, France, Scandinavian countries. Spain and Sardinia are famous for their light pink granite.
5. China, India, Sri Lanka.
6. Africa.
7. North America.

Australia is rich in granite, there are deposits of blue granite, but the deposits have not been explored to the end and stone mining is not developed.

Magical and healing properties

It may seem that granite is too simple to have any extraordinary properties. It is too familiar to be used for magical purposes. But experts highlight its properties:

• changes a person's life for the better. It can be any changes: financially, in love relationships, job change or promotion, change of residence;
• relaxes;
• cleans the room from negative energy;
• increases sociability, helps to find mutual understanding with other people;
• increases intuition, makes a person responsive and flexible;
• beneficial effect on the joints and spine.

As a talisman, granite stone is recommended for those who are engaged in scientific activities, as it increases concentration, attention, improves memory and stimulates mental activity. Improving communication skills, it helps to choose an approach even to the most negligent students.

All people can use it, because it has a peaceful energy, it is not capable of harming anyone.

Granite is a symbol of masculinity, invincibility, strength and durability. This is a unique mineral from the very depths of the earth. He survived the cataclysms, the birth of various forms of life, the tectonic process in the thickness of the earth. Now this stone, millions of years old, has served man.

The use of granite since ancient times had not only an aesthetic value, but also a functional side. Today, the stone is polished, ground, the surface of the processed samples has many names - polished, sawn, bush-hammered. For certain purposes, the stone is treated with fire. And all this variety of granite materials serves the conscience of a person.

The most durable, practical countertops and window sills are obtained from stone, which are also quite original due to the texture and color of the mineral. There are even fashion trends associated with cladding with this material. If earlier smooth surfaces were popular, today textured elements are in use. They conditioned the use of granite as a floor covering to avoid shoes slipping. Walls with textured design are also in fashion, it gives the interior a rich look and sets the main tone for the style decision.

It is clear that properties and areas of application of granite are interconnected. So, the hygiene of the stone, moisture resistance make it possible to create sinks and bathtubs from it. In addition, the mineral has high heat resistance, which is only a plus for the material used for such premises. The stone gives a person comfort and aesthetics in everyday life.

And yet the main thing for which he has been loved for centuries is his presentability. Majestic staircases, magnificent sculpture, harmonious borders and paving stones, monumental structures made of granite have been and will continue to be created as long as the mineral is formed in nature, as long as the reserves of this unique “eternal” stone allow.

Let's look into the storerooms of the Earth

Rocks form the thickness of the Earth, and they themselves consist of minerals.

View Samples feldspar, quartz and mica. These are minerals, joining together, form granite rock

Consider a piece of granite. Find colored grains. It is the mineral feldspar. Find translucent grains. This is the mineral mica.

Complete the chart. composition of granite.
Color in the scheme a rectangle with the name of the rock with a green pencil, rectangles with the names of minerals - with a yellow pencil.

Write out examples of rocks from the textbook.

Granite, sand, clay, limestone, chalk, marble, flint

Find additional information about granite, feldspar, quartz, mica in the atlas-determinant "From Earth to Sky". Prepare a message about 1 - 2 of these stones (of your choice). Write down brief information about them.

Granite
Granite is gray, pink, red. It can often be seen in cities: the walls of some buildings are lined with granite, river embankments are built from it, pedestals for monuments are made. Granite - rock, consisting of grains of several minerals. It is mainly feldspar, quartz, mica. Colored grains are feldspar, translucent, sparkling - quartz, black mica. "Grain" in Latin "granum". From this word came the name "granite".

Feldspar
Feldspar is the most common mineral on the earth's surface. Many varieties of feldspars are known. Among them are white, gray, yellowish, pinkish, red, green stones. Most of the time they are not transparent. Some of them are used to make jewelry.

Quartz
Quartz is a mineral that is part of granite, but is often found on its own. There are quartz crystals ranging in size from a few millimeters to several meters! Transparent colorless quartz is called rock crystal, opaque white - milky quartz. Many people know transparent purple quartz - amethyst. There is pink quartz, blue quartz and other varieties. All these stones have long been used to make various jewelry.

Mica
Mica is a mineral consisting of plates, thin leaves. These leaves are easily separated from each other. They are dark, but transparent and shiny. Mica is part of granite and some other rocks.

If you have your own collection of stones (for example, colorful sea pebbles or other stones), choose the most beautiful and interesting ones. Take photos and post them here. In the signature, try to convey your attitude to the world of stones.

Looking at stones is a very exciting experience. Studying the stones, you will definitely go to the distant past of our planet and the area where you live. There are countless different stones on Earth: beautiful and not very, different colors and forms. Looking at the stones, you think that each of them has some kind of mystery and many mysteries. And not all of them, probably, are revealed and solved. And how much these stones have seen in their lifetime! I would like to know what secrets they hide in themselves, how they differ from each other, what is the history of their appearance on Earth, and what benefits stones bring to people.

A brief message about granite, the most common rock, is given in this article.

Brief information about granite

Translated from the Latin language "granite" means "grain". And in the earth's crust, it is the most common rock. This is a clearly crystalline granular massive volcanic rock, which was formed in the process of cooling and solidification of magma melts at depth. By its nature, granite is a durable material, therefore it is used in construction.

Among the main characteristics of the breed are:

• The strength of granite exceeds the strength of marble by 2 times. This is due to the presence of quartz in its composition, so it can only be polished with a diamond.
• It is able to withstand temperatures from -60 ° C and more than + 50 ° C and is practically not affected by the fungus.
• High level of moisture absorption.
• impact resistant external environment, acids and precipitation.
• Frost resistant.

Granite description for children of the appearance of the stone

Since granite is an igneous rock, it is highly polished. Its mirror surface, obtained in the process of polishing, can retain its lining for a long time. It contains a large number of grains. And depending on their size, granites are:

1. fine-grained
2. medium-grained
3. Coarse-grained

Fine-grained granites are the most resistant to mechanical stress and weathering. They are considered the most expensive and high-quality breed. A distinctive feature of granite is its color range, which depends on the amount of feldspars in its composition. The most common shades of the stone are pink, red, orange, gray-blue, bluish-green. Biotite and hornblende, mafic components also influence the color. Thanks to them, granite can be dark and greenish in color. The rarest are rocks with blue quartz.

Granite deposit

Geologists find information about granite and its deposits. This rock is common on all continents. The main places where granite is mined are Wisconsin, Georgia, Vermont, South Dakota, Malokohnovskoye and Mokryanskoye deposits, the Urals, the Far East, the Caucasus, and Siberia.

• It carries sounds through itself much faster than air.
• Contains radiation.
• Mount Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain, is made entirely of granite.
• The main world suppliers of granite are Italy, China and India.
• Interestingly, this rock was formed at great depths under enormous pressure, and after millions of years it ended up near the surface of the earth.

We hope that the story about granite for children helped you learn a lot. useful information about this natural stone. And you can leave your message about granite through the comment form below.

GRANITE is a crystalline rock composed of feldspar, mica and quartz.

Granites are a widespread rock found on all continents of our planet. Sometimes they come to the surface in areas composed of ancient rocks, where, as a result of erosion processes, the overlying deposits were destroyed.

However, in most cases, the solidified magma from which granites were formed does not reach the surface of the earth's crust and solidifies (crystallizes) at different depths, forming bodies of unequal shapes and sizes. Granite, as a rule, has a granular structure: from fine to coarse-grained

Granite is a complex natural natural stone. Mainly formed from feldspars, mica and quartz

NAME

Granite (from lat. granum - grain)

COLOR

Depending on the proportional combination of minerals, it acquires different colors. Has a rich color scheme: from black - to traditional red-burgundy with black - to white with gray.

By the way, it is feldspar and quartz that create the “spotted” effect.

Granite is coarse-grained, medium-grained and fine-grained. This amazing stone has a rich color range, from the traditional red-burgundy version with black flecks to white with gray blotches (and vice versa).

The most common granites are gray (“Siberian”, Gray Quenna) and black (Absolute Black, Nero Africa), but there are also rocks of pink-red (Rosso Marina), white (“Mansurovsky”), yellow (“Zhiltau”) and green ( Forest Green) tones.

PLACE OF BIRTH

Granites are a widespread rock found on all continents of our planet.

In the United States, granites are distributed along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean (from Maine in the north to Georgia in the south), they form large massifs in the north of the country, in the central part of the Ozark plateau, in the Black Hills and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

In Russia, about 50 deposits of granite suitable for use as piece stone, as well as rubble and crushed stone, are known - on the Karelian Isthmus, in the Onezhye and Ladoga Regions, the Arkhangelsk and Voronezh Regions, in the Urals, in Primorye and Khabarovsk Territory, Eastern Transbaikalia.

A large granite deposit is located in Ukraine. Across the entire territory of the country, from the northwest to the southeast, the Ukrainian crystalline shield stretches. The width of its part, directly coming to the surface, is 200 km, and the length is about 1000 km. It is on this strip that the main deposits of decorative stone are concentrated.

QUALITIES

1.Durability. The best varieties of fine-grained granite begin to show the first signs of destruction after more than 500 years, so it is often called the "eternal" stone;

2.Strength. Granite is highly resistant to friction, compression and abrasion. It is a very dense (2.6-2.7 t / m³) and durable stone (its compressive strength is 90-250 MPa - twice that of marble);

3.Resistant to weathering and acids. Granite is an ideal stone for exterior decoration of buildings.

4.Waterproof. Granite practically does not absorb moisture (water absorption coefficient - 0.05–0.17%). That is why granite is perfect for facing embankments.

5.Environmental friendliness. Contrary to prevailing prejudices, the natural radiation level of most granites corresponds to the 1st class - i.e. they are radiation safe and suitable for all types of construction without restrictions;

6. Wealth of textures. Unpolished, rough stone that absorbs light; polished to a mirror shine, showing the world a unique light play of mica inclusions - the decorative possibilities of granite are able to satisfy even the most complex design ideas;

7. Compatibility with other materials. Granite goes well with wood, metal, ceramics and other materials used in modern construction. It will "fit" into any interior - from classic to ultra-modern;

8. Rich color palette. The most common is gray granite, but there are also red, pink, orange, bluish-gray, bluish-green.

APPLICATION

In modern construction, granite is used so widely that, without exaggeration, it can be called a universal material.

Floors, stairs. Granite is a material with very low level abrasion. Even if 1 million people walk up the stairs in your personal apartment in a year, they will be able to erase its steps by no more than 0.12 mm;

Various interior details. Window sills, cornices, skirting boards, railings, furniture tops, coffee tables, bar counters, balusters, columns - the high strength of granite will allow these items to remain intact for many years, to avoid mechanical damage due to temperature and humidity;

Facade and interior decoration. Granite is a very ergonomic material that can provide you with a comfortable stay in a building;

Elements of landscape design. Alpine hills, rockeries, Japanese gardens, decorative ponds - made of granite, these fashionable compositions will give your garden naturalness and originality.

Borders, steps, paving stones for pavements. Granite is successfully used in places where more "endurance" is needed. It is resistant to mechanical stress, chemical pollution and temperature changes - it does not change its properties during hundreds of freezing and thawing cycles.

Embankment lining. Granite practically does not absorb moisture - accordingly, when the temperature drops, additional internal pressure from frozen water does not form in the pores of the stone, which can lead to the formation of cracks and destruction of the rock.

Granite paving stone. The use of granite paving stones dates back thousands of years. The famous ancient Roman cobbled roads can still be walked today; paved streets, you will find in the old part of any of the European capitals; in modern cities, stone roads are gradually replacing asphalt and concrete.

MAGICAL AND HEALING PROPERTIES

Ever since primitive times, man has been accustomed to trust the stone. This natural, living, "feeling" material will relieve psychological stress, bring coziness, tranquility and comfort to your home.

Have you ever thought about the origin of the expression "nibble on the granite of science"? Why, speaking of diligent and capable students, do we remember exactly granite, and not any other stone? It turns out there is an explanation for this. According to some observations, granite has the ability to stimulate human mental activity, helping to achieve success in scientific research.