Is Granite Harder Than Limestone

Limestone generally ranks at around a 3 on the scale while marble falls between 3 and 4.

Is granite harder than limestone.

An example of the hardness of a granite countertop can be seen in the fact that a knife blade will not scratch the surface. Granite and sandstone are the most abundant minerals in the earth s crust. Granite vs limestone characteristics. Marble and limestone lie at the opposite end of the hardness scale from granite.

The igneous rock is comprised of mostly quartz and feldspar along with smaller amounts of various other minerals. Granite vs limestone characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Granite rocks were formed when pockets of magma cooled below the earth s surface with the overall process taking longer than for many other igneous rocks. The only natural stones harder than granite are diamonds rubies and sapphires.

Granite comes in at a 6 to 7 on the mohs scale meaning it is relatively hard. Limestone is classed as a sedimentary rock. These factors influence the final price of the stone so although limestone is generally more affordable a rare limestone that s travelled a long way may be more expensive than a local marble. Caches of limestone from different locations can possess different hardness scores.

Granite is very tough making it harder to quarry and work. It was formed on the surface of the earth by the process of sedimentation with several minerals or organic particles coming together to form a. Granite is harder and stronger than limestone whilst limestone is easier to shape or mould. While marble is slightly harder and denser than limestone both rate very low on the mohs scale a rating used to measure the hardness of stones.

Characteristics of rocks include texture appearance color fracture streak hardness etc. Limestone on the other hand is basically just a huge pile of non interlocked but cemented calcite caco3 which is the definition of a mohs 3. The skeletal remains are typically from ocean dwellers like coral and mollusks. Granites have large amounts of quartz sio2 and other hard silicate materials quartz 7 mohs.

Therefore choose granite when permanence enduring color and texture and complete freedom from deterioration and maintenance are prime requirements. Bell reported in the bulletin of engineering geology and the environment that carboniferous limestone consistently rated as harder and stronger than magnesian limestone inferior oolitic limestone and great oolitic limestone. Though some rocks look identical they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others.