igneous
Pink Granite
Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, reddish-pink, grey, and black speckles; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.63–2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Pink, reddish-pink, grey, and black speckles
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, reddish-pink, grey, and black speckles; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.63–2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow crystallization of silica-rich magma below the Earth's surface. It is a plutonic rock that can be hundreds of millions to billions of years old, often found in the roots of mountain ranges.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, monuments, and as a decorative stone in landscaping and jewelry (cabochons).
Geological facts
The pink color is caused by an abundance of potassium feldspar (orthoclase). Granite makes up much of the Earth's continental crust and is exceptionally durable against erosion.
Field identification & locations
Identify by the interlocking coarse grains of pink feldspar, clear-to-grey quartz, and black mica (biotite). Common in glaciated regions as 'erratics' or in batholiths like those in Scotland, Brazil, or the USA.
