Granite, pictured, and labradorite are both from the same "family" of rocks.
While labradorite and granite are both types of rock from the same "family," there are differences between the two. Both are feldspars, rock-forming minerals that comprise large parts of the rock and which are the most commonly found minerals in the Earth's crust. Being feldspars, both labradorite and granite are hard rocks that are typified by having a glassy sheen.
Different Feldspars
For geologists, the different types of feldspar are important, particularly the two principal types: plagioclase and alkali, both of which split or break easily along their flat faces, a phenomenon known as cleavage. In the case of plagioclase, its cleavage planes usually display fine parallel lines that are indications of crystal twinning. Plagioclase is often translucent. Alkali (sometimes known as potassium feldspar or K-feldspar) is typically opaque. Granite can have both types of feldspar.
Labradorite
Labradorite, the generic name given to the type of feldspar known as plagioclase, gets its name from the Labrador province of Canada where it was first identified. Its most distinctive feature is its color. Labradorite displays a beautiful range of hues ranging from metallic blues and greens to gold and yellow. When polished or wet, its iridescence resembles gasoline on the surface of water. Most of the high-quality labradorite today comes from the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar.
Granite
Granite is a hard, igneous, coarse-grained crystalline rock that is made up mainly of alkali feldspar, quartz and mica. Most granite features shades of grey, though it does come in a variety of hues from white to pink, depending on the chemical structure and subtle mineral differences. The word granite is derived from the Latin "granum" because of its grainy structure. Its pink color comes from the alkali feldspar, as opposed to plagioclase.
Uses for Labradorite and Granite
Granite is used in a variety of ways by the construction industry, and was a main material for buildings in the past, including the famous Red Pyramid of Egypt. It has also long been used for gravestones and memorials and today is a common material for kitchen worktops. Labradorite's range of colors, known as labradorescence, has made it a popular material for jewelry, though it is sometimes also used for ornamental facings and decorative detail on buildings.
Tags: alkali feldspar, both types, comes from, from same, from same family, Granite Granite, labradorite granite
