igneous
Pink Granite
Phaneritic Quartz-Feldspar Granite
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, salmon, or reddish-brown due to potassium feldspar; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Perfect in feldspar grains; Specific gravity: 2.63 to 2.75.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pink, salmon, or reddish-brown due to potassium feldspar
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, salmon, or reddish-brown due to potassium feldspar; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Perfect in feldspar grains; Specific gravity: 2.63 to 2.75.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the slow cooling and crystallization of molten magma deep beneath the Earth's surface (intrusive). The pink color reflects a high concentration of orthoclase feldspar. Geological ages can vary from billions to millions of years.
Uses & applications
Extensively used as a building material, kitchen countertops, flooring, monuments, and decorative gravel. Polished specimens are popular for geological collections.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. Its name comes from the Latin 'granum', meaning a grain, in reference to its coarse-grained structure. Mount Rushmore is carved into a granite batholith.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its speckled 'salt and pepper' appearance with pinkish hues. Look for interlocking crystals of translucent quartz, pink feldspar, and dark specks of mica or amphibole. Common in glacial till and mountainous regions.
