Q:
What is the hardest rock on Earth?
A:
Quick Answer
There's no single hardest rock on Earth. The strongest types, on the other hand, include quartz in their makeup: quartzite, quartz sandstones, rhyolites and granites, according to the MadSci Network.
Continue ReadingFull Answer
While many cite diamonds as the hardest rock on Earth, this is incorrect. Diamonds are not a rock. They are a mineral. Minerals are a "naturally occurring, inorganic (not alive) solid," as MadSci explains. They also have a crystal-shaped structure.
Rocks are a little different. They contain one or more minerals, but are not minerals themselves. Granite, for instance, is made of quartz and other minerals, often feldspar and biotite.
Learn more about GeologySources:
Related Questions
-
Q:
Why is Earth geologically active?
A: Earth is geologically active because its internal heat keeps the outer core and lithosphere molten, encouraging plate movement and volcanic activity. Earth... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is a fine-grained igneous rock?
A: A fine-grained igneous rock is a rock that is formed by melted magma cooling so quickly at the surface of the Earth that only tiny crystals form, most too ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What are some facts about igneous rocks?
A: Some facts about igneous rocks include that they are glassy in nature, that pumice igneous rock is the lightest type of rock on Earth, and that the moon is... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is the rarest mineral on Earth?
A: Painite is believed to be the rarest mineral on Earth. By 2005, only 25 specimens had been found worldwide, though thousands of specimens were discovered i... Full Answer >Filed Under:
