Petrogenesis, magma source and aesthetic characteristics of building granites from China and Spain: a comparative review

Granite is a fundamental building material valued for its strength and durability, and it holds deep cultural significance around the world as a symbol of longevity and an integral part of historic architecture. However, few studies have been carried out to reveal the petrogenesis of these building stones, as well as their aesthetic characteristics for why they are suitable to be building and decoration materials. To figure out this question, this study presents an integrated analysis of building granites from both China and Spain. Four common Chinese building granites, classified by their trade names, show different geochemical features: the “Cengxi Red” and “Baihujian Red” granitoids show A-type granite features with high SiO 2 and alkali contents, enriched in high-field-strength elements, while the “Gingili Grey” and “Pearl Flower” granodiorites have I-type granite fatures with lower silica, metaluminous, and relatively higher CaO and MgO contents. We consider that the “Cengxi Red” and “Baihujian Red” granitoids may have originated from basaltic granulites in the lower crust with injected asthenosphere mantle-derived magmas, while the “Gingili Grey” and “Pearl Flower” granodiorites originated from the mixing of mantle-derived mafic and lower crust-derived felsic magmas. Different to Chinese building granites, all Spanish building granites have similar geochemical features of low temperature, metaluminous, relatively high alkaline, P and Rb contents. We consider that they are I-type granites which have protoliths of lower crustal alkalic meta-igneous rocks. Since the Chinese granites are relatively fresh and Spanish granites are relatively altered, the controlling factor of aesthetic characteristics between them is different: the former are mainly controlled by their mineral assemblage, while the latter are mostly controlled by their weathering degree.