GRANULITE
Granulite is a term that modern metamorphic geologists don't seem to like or use
for a rock type any more. Traditionally, granulites were considered to be
very high-grade metamorphic rocks having a crystalline texture with ~same-sized
crystals that are not large. Granulites lack obvious foliation at a fine
scale, but do show a weak gneissic foliation at a coarse scale (e.g., see
ÒToasted Almond GraniteÓ - 2nd photo below). Several commercial
decorative ÒgranitesÓ are actually granulites.
Kashmir White Granite - an attractive garnetiferous granulite from India
that was metamorphosed during the early Mesoproterozoic (~1.4 billion years
ago). The rock has feldspar (white), quartz (grayish), garnet (deep red),
and biotite mica (black). This material is quarried at several localities
near Melur Taluk (for example, Keelavalavu, Malampatti, Navinipatti, and
Tirukalambur), Madurai District, southern Tamil Nadu State in the far-southern
Eastern Ghats Orogenic Belt of far-southern India.
Toasted Almond Granite (a.k.a. ÒGhibli GraniteÓ) - another
Proterozoic-aged granulite from India's Eastern Ghats Orogenic Belt. It
comes from near the city of Ghibli, Tamil Nadu State, southern India.
Note the slightly elongated crystals give this rock a subtle foliation
extending from the top to the bottom of the photo.