RocksdayGranite vs Nepheline Syenite
To tell Granite from Nepheline Syenite: Granite contains quartz.
A coarse-grained rock that cooled slowly deep underground, made of quartz, feldspar and mica or hornblende.
Photo: The stone gate, CC BY-SA 4.0
A coarse rock of alkali feldspar and nepheline, with no quartz. It is the home of many rare minerals.
Photo: Jstuby, CC BY-SA 3.0
Key differences
- Granite contains quartz.
Side by side
| Property | Granite | Nepheline Syenite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Igneous rock | Igneous rock |
| Mohs hardness | 6–7 | 5.5–6 |
| Luster | Granular, sparkly | Granular |
| Colors | Pink, Gray, White, Black | Gray, White, Pink, Green |
| Crystal system / structure | Coarse-grained (phaneritic) | Coarse-grained, no quartz |
| Specific gravity | 2.63–2.75 | 2.5–2.7 |
| Found in | Sierra Nevada, California; Stone Mountain, Georgia | Bancroft, Ontario; Khibiny, Kola Peninsula, Russia |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify granite
- Speckled with interlocking grains you can see without a lens.
- Glassy gray quartz plus pink or white blocky feldspar.
- Black specks of mica or hornblende.
- Hard, with no layering or banding.
Structure: Coarse-grained (phaneritic)
Full Granite guide →How to identify nepheline syenite
- Pale gray, pink or green, coarse grained.
- No glassy quartz — nepheline is greasier and softer.
- A knife may scratch the nepheline.
Structure: Coarse-grained, no quartz
Full Nepheline Syenite guide →More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between granite and nepheline syenite?
Granite is an igneous rock with a Mohs hardness of about 6–7 and a granular, sparkly luster, usually pink, gray, white or black. Nepheline Syenite is an igneous rock with a Mohs hardness of about 5.5–6 and a granular luster, usually gray, white, pink or green.
How can you tell granite from nepheline syenite?
Granite contains quartz.
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
Play today's Rocksday