Granite is a light-colored igneous rock that has large grains big enough to be seen with the naked eye. It forms from the slow crystallization of magma below the earth's surface. Granite is composed mainly of quartz and feldspar with minor amounts of mica, amphiboles and other minerals. This mineral composition gives granite a red, pink, gray or white color with dark mineral grains visible through out the rock. The name granite is derived from the Latin word 'granum' meaning 'grain,' a reference to the easily seen minerals in the rock.