igneous
Pink granite
Granite, a coarse-grained felsic plutonic rock composed mainly of quartz, alkali feldspar, plagioclase, and minor biotite or iron oxides
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectTypically pink to reddish-gray, granular, and speckled, with a dull to glassy luster; quartz is Mohs 7, feldspar about 6, and the rock has no consistent cleavage as a whole. Visible interlocking crystals indicate slow cooling underground.
Identified More igneous →
Explore Pink granite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Typically pink to reddish-gray, granular, and speckled, with a dull to glassy luster; quartz is Mohs 7, feldspar about 6, and the rock has no consistent cleavage as a whole. Visible interlocking crystals indicate slow cooling underground.
Formation & geological history
Formed when silica-rich magma crystallized slowly deep within continental crust, commonly during Precambrian to younger continental mountain-building events. Weathering and uplift later exposed the granite at the surface.
Uses & applications
Used extensively as dimension stone, countertops, monuments, paving, aggregate, and decorative architectural material; attractive polished pieces are collected but are generally inexpensive.
Geological facts
The pink color usually comes from potassium feldspar, while dark flecks are commonly biotite or hornblende. Granite is an intrusive equivalent of rhyolite, which forms volcanically at the surface.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its coarse interlocking grains, pink feldspar, translucent quartz, and scattered dark minerals; it commonly occurs in mountain plutons, shields, and glacially transported boulders. The specimen appears strongly weathered and iron-stained.
