An investigation is reported of the characteristics of specific energy in grinding of granite using diamond abrasives. The effects of many parameters, such as the types of diamond tools, the types of abrasives, the properties of granite, the conditions of lubrication, and the working conditions of diamond tools, were studied. The power consumed in grinding was measured in order to obtain the specific energy, which is defined as the energy expended per unit volume of material removal. It is found that the specific energy for grinding of granite was closely related to the removal mechanisms of granite, the failure modes of diamonds and the interactions of the swarf with the applied fluid and bond matrix.