1. Granite:
* Uses: Building materials (countertops, monuments, paving stones), landscaping, construction aggregate (crushed stone for roads, concrete), and as a dimension stone.
* Properties: Hard, durable, resistant to weathering, and comes in a variety of colors.
2. Basalt:
* Uses: Road aggregate, concrete, landscaping, and as a source of crushed stone.
* Properties: Dark-colored, dense, and relatively hard. It is also used in the production of basalt fiber, a strong and lightweight material used in various applications.
3. Rhyolite:
* Uses: Building materials (especially in the form of polished slabs), landscaping, and as a source of dimension stone.
* Properties: Light-colored, fine-grained, and often contains large crystals (phenocrysts). It is also used as a source of silica for glassmaking.
4. Gabbro:
* Uses: Dimension stone, building aggregate, and as a source of crushed stone. It is also used in the production of steel, as a source of iron, and as a source of magnesium.
* Properties: Dark-colored, coarse-grained, and often contains large crystals (phenocrysts).
5. Obsidian:
* Uses: Historically used for tools (arrowheads, knives, and scrapers), jewelry, and decorative objects. Modern uses include surgical scalpel blades and other high-precision cutting tools.
* Properties: A naturally occurring volcanic glass, obsidian is dark-colored, glassy, and has a sharp edge.
Note: This is just a small sample of the many igneous rocks and their uses. Many other igneous rocks are used in a variety of applications.
