Granite is a common igneous rock with a medium to coarse grained texture. It is available in pink and gray tones. Stone is generally hard, resistant, and lacks internal structures, making it useful as a building material throughout history. Granite has a wide range of uses, including:
- The pyramids: Granite has been used since ancient times, most notably in the Red Pyramid of Egypt, the Pyramid of Menkaure, and the Great Pyramid of Giza. It was used in Ancient Egypt to build sarcophagi and columns, as well as domestic structures such as lintels, jambs, windowsills, and floors. It is not known for certain how the ancient Egyptians worked granite into the huge shapes, although they may have used emery to file the granite into shape.
- Modern buildings: Granite is still used today as the main material in some construction projects. In many cases, the blocks are left rough-textured on the outer sides for a rustic look. Granite blocks can also be polished to a smooth finish on the inside sides for easy construction, strong bonds, and better construction integrity.
- Sculptures and Monuments: The mottled and varied appearance of granite has made it a popular material for all manner of sculptures, statues, and monuments. It is cheaper than marble, but can be polished to a very high shine, making it an economical choice for public monuments and tombstones. Granite is scratch resistant and durable, making it perfect for permanent monuments and memorial stones.
- Rock climbing: Granite is not only used in refined states for construction, but is also highly prized in its most natural form. The stone occurs naturally in large tors and masses. These geological outcrops are typically steep but stable, with well-established crevasse systems, making them perfect for the sport of rock climbing. Granite outcrops are the most popular locations for climbers from around the world, with the most popular locations being Yosemite in California, the Mont Blanc massif in the Western Alps, Corsica in France, and parts of the Karakoram mountain range that spans the borders between Pakistan, India and China.
- Tiling and Flooring: Granite can be cut and polished to a high shine, producing a highly attractive tile for bathrooms, kitchens or anywhere in the home. The finished tiles can be used for flooring and wall covering. Granite is also popularly used in less refined forms as pavers in gardens, patios, and driveways. Granite pavers have a beautiful natural and varied appearance and are strong enough to withstand regular traffic.
