igneous
Pink Granite
Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock (high K-feldspar)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, salmon, or reddish with white, grey, and black speckles; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Specific Gravity: 2.63 to 2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
Identified More igneous →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, salmon, or reddish with white, grey, and black speckles; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Specific Gravity: 2.63 to 2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of silica-rich magma beneath the Earth's surface (intrusive). The pink color is derived from an abundance of potassium feldspar (orthoclase). These spans can be hundreds of millions to billions of years old.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stone, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base. Due to its durability and color, it is popular in architectural curbing and building veneers.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large part of the Earth's continental crust. Enchanted Rock in Texas and Pikes Peak in Colorado are famous examples of massive pink granite batholiths. It is one of the hardest natural stones commonly available.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its visible interlocking crystals of pink feldspar, clear-to-grey quartz, and dark minerals like biotite. It is found in continental shields and mountain ranges worldwide. Collectors often look for pegmatitic varieties with exceptionally large crystals.
