igneous
Pink granite
Granite, a quartz–feldspar–mica plutonic rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectCoarse-grained, speckled pink, gray, white, and black; vitreous quartz and feldspar, with dark biotite or amphibole. Hardness is roughly 6–7 Mohs; massive, crystalline, and lacking cleavage as a whole, though individual feldspars may cleave.
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Physical properties
Coarse-grained, speckled pink, gray, white, and black; vitreous quartz and feldspar, with dark biotite or amphibole. Hardness is roughly 6–7 Mohs; massive, crystalline, and lacking cleavage as a whole, though individual feldspars may cleave.
Formation & geological history
Formed when silica-rich magma cooled slowly deep within continental crust, allowing large crystals to grow; commonly Precambrian to Phanerozoic in age, depending on the source body.
Uses & applications
Widely used as dimension stone, countertops, monuments, aggregate, and building cladding; attractive pieces are collected but generally have modest value.
Geological facts
Pink coloration typically comes from potassium feldspar, while translucent gray grains are quartz and black flakes are biotite or amphibole.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by interlocking visible crystals of pink/white feldspar, glassy quartz, and dark minerals; it is common in continental mountain belts and granite quarries worldwide. A hand lens and streak/acid tests help distinguish it from similar gneiss or pegmatite.
