Granite
ASTM C615
Granite is a coarse-grained igneous rock of mainly quartz and feldspar, supplied as dimension stone to ASTM C615 in blocks and named commercial types such as G603 and black and special-pattern selections.
Reference datasheet — Granite is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the C615 condition
Granite tempers and conditions
Granite is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. C615 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C615Default Commercial dimension-stone granite | Default choice for cladding, paving, countertops and kerbs where standard ASTM C615 / GB/T 18601 minimums apply. | 12 | 3 W/m·K | |||
Commercial 'black granite' | Pick when maximum density, strength and a deep mirror polish matter (monuments, dark cladding, machine bases). | 16 | 2 W/m·K | |||
Metrology / surface-plate grade granite | Use for surface plates, CMM bases and machine-tool structures needing low CTE, no burring and long-term dimensional stability. | 2 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Granite is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
G603 | Chinese light-grey speckled granite | Coating |
What is Granite?
Granite is a coarse-grained igneous rock of mainly quartz and feldspar, supplied as dimension stone to ASTM C615 in blocks and named commercial types such as G603 and black and special-pattern selections. It is specified for high compressive strength, abrasion resistance and weathering resistance (corrosion resistance score 88) at 2.68 g/cm³, 50 GPa modulus and 2.9 W/m·K, in slabs, tiles, pavers, curbing and cut-to-size panels. Limits are brittleness in tension at about 12 MPa, a 300 °C service ceiling and slow, diamond-only fabrication at a machinability score of 25. Quartzite is the alternative when higher scratch resistance is wanted. Granite has a density of 2.68 g/cm³ (0.0968 lb/in³), heavier than 89% of natural material grades. It melts at 1,215°C (2,219 °F). Granite has a tensile strength of 12 MPa (1.74 ksi), weaker than 68% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.05% and the elastic modulus is 50 GPa (7.25 Msi).
What is Granite used for?
- countertops and vanity tops
- building facades and cladding
- paving and curbing
- monuments and headstones
- flooring in high-traffic areas
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 2.9 W/m·K (1.68 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of natural material grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 88/100, better than 96% of natural material grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 1.2 MPa·√m (1.09 ksi·√in), better than 93% of natural material grades
- Stiff — 50 GPa (7.25 Msi), better than 88% of natural material grades
- High service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), better than 88% of natural material grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 96% of natural material grades
- Limited ductility — 0.05%, worse than 94% of natural material grades
- Heavy — 2.68 g/cm³ (0.0968 lb/in³), worse than 89% of natural material grades
Granite properties
Typical room-temperature values for Granite-C615; bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical3
Granite has a density of 2.68 g/cm³ (0.0968 lb/in³), heavier than 89% of natural material grades. It melts at 1,215°C (2,219 °F).
Mechanical12
Granite has a tensile strength of 12 MPa (1.74 ksi), weaker than 68% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.05% and the elastic modulus is 50 GPa (7.25 Msi).
Thermal5
Granite is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 2.9 W/m·K (1.68 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of natural material grades. Thermal expansion is 8 µm/m·K (4.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
Granite has an electrical resistivity of 10,000 Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is excellent (88/100), better than 96% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Granite takes about 6 MJ of energy and emits 0.45 kg of CO₂ — less than 78% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
Granite's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 96% of natural material grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Working with Granite
Is Granite easy to machine?
Diamond tooling only — gang/wire saws for blocks, diamond blades, core bits and CNC routers with copious water; avoid dry cutting (silica dust, thermal cracking).
Can Granite be welded?
Not weldable; joints are made with epoxy/polyester stone adhesives, dowels, kerf anchors or mechanical undercut fasteners.
Can Granite be formed, bent or molded?
No plastic forming — shapes are produced by sawing, splitting, flaming, waterjet and profiling; design for compression and avoid thin unsupported tension spans.
Granite chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| SiO2mostly as quartz 20–40 % plus feldspar-bound silica | 65 – 77 | 72 |
| Al2O3feldspars and micas | 12 – 16 | 14 |
| K2Oalkali feldspar / biotite | 3 – 6 | 4.5 |
| Na2Oplagioclase | 2.5 – 4.5 | 3.5 |
| CaOplagioclase | 0.5 – 3 | 1.5 |
| Fe2O3+FeObiotite, amphibole, magnetite | 1 – 4 | 2.5 |
| MgO | 0.2 – 1.5 | 0.6 |
| TiO2 | 0.1 – 0.6 | 0.3 |
| other oxides / LOIMnO, P2O5, accessory zircon/apatite, bound water | balance |
What surface finishes work on Granite?
Polished, honed, flamed, bush-hammered, sandblasted or leathered; polished faces benefit from silane/siloxane impregnating sealer, and acidic cleaners must be avoided.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Granite in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- C615
- Also called
- Granite Dimension Stone
How much does Granite cost?
Granite is a budget-cost natural material ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Granite — frequently asked
What is Granite used for?
Granite is typically used for countertops and vanity tops, building facades and cladding, paving and curbing, monuments and headstones and flooring in high-traffic areas. In short: durable exterior dimension stone; low machinability, diamond only; high compressive strength.
What is the tensile strength of Granite?
Granite has a typical tensile strength of 12 MPa (1.74 ksi) — weaker than 68% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Granite easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 96% of natural material grades). Diamond tooling only — gang/wire saws for blocks, diamond blades, core bits and CNC routers with copious water; avoid dry cutting (silica dust, thermal cracking).
Can Granite be welded?
Not weldable; joints are made with epoxy/polyester stone adhesives, dowels, kerf anchors or mechanical undercut fasteners.
What surface finishes work on Granite?
Polished, honed, flamed, bush-hammered, sandblasted or leathered; polished faces benefit from silane/siloxane impregnating sealer, and acidic cleaners must be avoided.
Can Granite be formed, bent or molded?
No plastic forming — shapes are produced by sawing, splitting, flaming, waterjet and profiling; design for compression and avoid thin unsupported tension spans.
What is the maximum service temperature of Granite?
Granite is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Granite cost?
Granite is a budget-cost natural material ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM C615/C615M — Standard Specification for Granite Dimension Stone — ASTM International (2018)
- ASTM C97, C99, C170, C880, C1354 — dimension stone test methods — ASTM International (2018)
- EN 1469 / EN 12372 — Natural stone slabs for cladding and flexural strength — CEN (2015)
- GGG-P-463c / DIN 876 — granite surface plate accuracy grades — US Federal Spec / DIN (1973)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook — Ceramics and Glasses (rock property tables) — ASM International (1991)
- Handbook of Physical Properties of Rocks — CRC Press (1982)
- CES/ICE embodied energy and carbon data for quarried dimension stone — Granta / University of Bath (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.