- 2063 Baisakh (old course) · 2 marks
Garnet versus granite
Short answer
Garnet is a single mineral (silicate of Ca, Mg, Fe, Al) with isometric crystals, hardness 6.5–7.5, found in metamorphic rocks, used as abrasive/gem. Granite is a coarse-grained igneous rock composed of quartz, feldspar, mica, hardness ~6–7 overall, used as building stone and aggregate.
Differentiate between garnet and granite.
| Basis | Garnet | Granite |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | A mineral (single silicate compound) | A rock (aggregate of several minerals) |
| Composition | Silicate of Ca, Mg, Fe, Al (e.g. Fe₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃) | Quartz, feldspar, mica, hornblende |
| Crystal system | Isometric (cubic) | None; a rock is an aggregate of crystals |
| Hardness | 6.5-7.5 | Varies, about 6-7 (as a whole) |
| Origin | Metamorphic rocks mainly (schist, gneiss) | Igneous (intrusive) |
| Colour | Red, brown, green | Pink, grey, white with speckles |
| Texture | Crystal form, dodecahedral | Coarse-grained, granular |
| Use | Abrasive, gem | Building stone, aggregate, foundation |
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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