igneous
Pink Granite
Granitoid (rich in Potassium Feldspar)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, salmon, or reddish with flecks of white, gray, and black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific gravity: 2.63 to 2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, salmon, or reddish with flecks of white, gray, and black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific gravity: 2.63 to 2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling and crystallization of magma beneath the Earth's surface (intrusive). The pink color comes from an abundance of potassium feldspar (orthoclase). Found in continental crust ranging from Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, and monuments. Small weathered pieces are common in landscape gravel.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common igneous rock of the Earth's continental crust. Mount Rushmore is carved into a granite batholith. The presence of pink suggests a lack of high-calcium plagioclase which would otherwise make the rock look grayer.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its interlocking visible crystals, lack of layering, and extreme hardness (cannot be scratched by a steel blade). Commonly found in mountain ranges or areas with deep erosion of the crust.
