igneous
Pink Granite
Granite (Phaneritic Igneous Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Pinkish-orange with black and white mottling, Luster: Dull to vitreous, Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained), Composition: Orthoclase feldspar, quartz, and hornblende/biotite mica.
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Pinkish-orange with black and white mottling, Luster: Dull to vitreous, Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained), Composition: Orthoclase feldspar, quartz, and hornblende/biotite mica.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling of silica-rich magma deep underground. This slow cooling allows for large, visible crystals to form. Typically found in continental crust and mountain ranges from all geological periods.
Uses & applications
Widely used as an architectural stone, in construction as aggregate, for countertops, grave markers, and as landscaping stones.
Geological facts
The pink color is due to a high concentration of potassium-rich orthoclase feldspar. Granite is the most common igneous rock found on Earth's continents and makes up the core of many mountain ranges.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its visible interlocking crystals of pink feldspar, translucent grey quartz, and dark specks of mica or amphibole. Look for it in weathered outcrops or as rounded river cobbles in mountainous regions.
