igneous
Pink Granite (River Pebble)
Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, reddish-orange, with white/gray and black specks; Luster: Dull (weathered) to vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (visible crystals of K-feldspar, quartz, and mica)
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Pink, reddish-orange, with white/gray and black specks
- Luster
- Dull (weathered) to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, reddish-orange, with white/gray and black specks; Luster: Dull (weathered) to vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (visible crystals of K-feldspar, quartz, and mica)
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling and crystallization of magma beneath the Earth's surface (intrusive). These specific specimens appear to be water-worn pebbles, shaped by fluvial transport and erosion over thousands of years.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as decorative gravel, in construction aggregate, and as landscaping stones. Large deposits are quarried for countertops and architectural cladding.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. The pink color is specifically caused by an abundance of potassium feldspar (orthoclase).
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by the 'salt and pepper' look combined with large pink feldspar crystals. It will easily scratch glass. These are ubiquitous in riverbeds and glacial tills across North America and Europe.
