GRANITE.- SCOTTISH GRANITE. 225 
251. GRANITE or MOORSTONE is a compound rock 
composed of felspar (110), quartz (76), and mica (123), each 
in crystalline grains of various size, and promiscuously ar- 
ranged ; sometimes one and sometimes the other of these in" 
gredients predominates, but generally the felspar. 
This is one of the most common and most widely ex- 
tended rocks that are known ; and is considered as the 
foundation on which the secondary rocks are deposited. 
In Cornwall it is very abundant, and veins both of copper 
and tin are found in it. Granite forms the summits of 
the highest mountains in Scotland, of the highest of the 
Grampian Hills, the Alps, and the Pyrennees ; and in- 
deed the loftiest parts of most of the countries of the 
world. The Logan or rocking stones, in Cornwall, are 
immense blocks of granite. 
The uses of this stone are numerous and important. 
Millstones, steps, troughs for stamping mills, and innu- 
merable other articles, are made of it. The streets of 
London are chiefly paved with granite, and its hardness 
and durability render it peculiarly eligible for this use. 
Weather has little effect upon it. Consequently, when 
applied to architectural purposes it is found infinitely 
preferable to Portland stone, of which nearly all the 
public buildings of modern date in London have been 
constructed, and many of which are fast going to de- 
cay. This circumstance induced the proprietors of the 
Waterloo Bridge to adopt granite in the construction 
of that edifice. Mr. Smeaton also chose it for the 
outer walls of the Eddystone Lighthouse. 
252. SCOTTISH GRANITE. Scotland is remarkable 
for many kinds of granite, some of which are suscepti- 
ble of an excellent polish. The greatest part of the 
mountain of Ben Nevis, near Fort William, is composed 
of a reddish granite, one of the best and most beautiful 
that is known. This mountain is nearly a mile in per- 
pendicular height, and is said to contain granite enough 
for all the kingdoms of the earth, although they should 
be as partial to this stone as the ancient Egyptians 
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