igneous
Pink Granite River Rock
Pink Orthoclase Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, grey, and black mottled; Luster: Dull (weathered) to vitreous (on fresh break); Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Pink, grey, and black mottled
- Luster
- Dull (weathered) to vitreous (on fresh break)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, grey, and black mottled; Luster: Dull (weathered) to vitreous (on fresh break); Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow cooling of magma deep beneath the Earth's surface (plutonic). This specific specimen has been rounded and smoothed by water erosion in a river or glacial environment.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in landscaping, decorative stone masonry, and garden design. In larger forms, granite is used for countertops and monuments.
Geological facts
The pink color is caused by the presence of potassium-rich feldspar (orthoclase). Granite makes up the majority of the Earth's continental crust.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its interlocking crystals of quartz (clear/grey), feldspar (pink/white), and biotite or hornblende (black). Commonly found in glacial till or riverbeds in the Northern Hemisphere.
