One observable characteristic other than crystal size that makes granite different from basalt is color.

* Granite is typically light-colored, often with shades of gray, pink, or white. This is due to its mineral composition, which is dominated by quartz and feldspar.

* Basalt is typically dark-colored, often black or dark gray. This is because it contains a higher proportion of dark-colored minerals like pyroxene and olivine.

This difference in color can be readily observed with the naked eye, even without examining the individual crystals.