igneous
Pink Granite
Granite (rich in Potassium Feldspar / Orthoclase)
Hardness 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale; coarse-grained phaneritic texture; vitreous to dull luster; pink to reddish-brown coloration due to orthoclase feldspar, speckled with translucent quartz and dark biotite mica or hornblende; specific gravity approximately 2.63-2.75.
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Physical properties
Hardness 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale; coarse-grained phaneritic texture; vitreous to dull luster; pink to reddish-brown coloration due to orthoclase feldspar, speckled with translucent quartz and dark biotite mica or hornblende; specific gravity approximately 2.63-2.75.
Formation & geological history
Formed deep beneath the Earth's surface through the slow cooling and crystallization of silica-rich felsic magma underground in plutonic continental crust environments.
Uses & applications
Widely used as a durable construction material, dimension stone, kitchen countertops, architectural facing, floor tiles, monuments, and crushed aggregate for roads.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of Earth's continental crust. The pink color is specifically due to a high concentration of K-feldspar (potassium feldspar) rather than plagioclase feldspar.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its granular, interlocking crystalline texture consisting of visible pink feldspar, clear greyish quartz, and dark specks of mica. Commonly found in continental shields, mountain cores, and batholiths worldwide.
