igneous
K-Feldspar / Granite Pegmatite
Potassium Feldspar (Microcline/Orthoclase) with Quartz
Hardness: 6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Salmon pink to reddish-brown with greyish quartz inclusions. Luster: Vitreous to pearly. Crystal structure: Triclinic or monoclinic. Cleavage: Good in two directions at nearly right angles. Specific gravity: 2.5 - 2.6.
- Hardness
- 6 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- Salmon pink to reddish-brown with greyish quartz inclusions
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
Identified More igneous →
Explore K-Feldspar / Granite Pegmatite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Salmon pink to reddish-brown with greyish quartz inclusions. Luster: Vitreous to pearly. Crystal structure: Triclinic or monoclinic. Cleavage: Good in two directions at nearly right angles. Specific gravity: 2.5 - 2.6.
Formation & geological history
Formed from cooling magma deep within the Earth's crust, typically as part of pegmatite intrusions where slow cooling allows large crystals to form.
Uses & applications
Used in the manufacture of ceramics, glass, as a flux, and occasionally as decorative stone or in lapidary work.
Geological facts
Potassium feldspar is one of the most common rock-forming minerals on Earth and is a major component of continental crust rocks like granite.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinct salmon-pink color, blocky crystal habit, and the presence of right-angle cleavage planes. Commonly found in pegmatite dikes and granitic terrains worldwide.
