igneous
Pink Granite
Granite (Phaneritic intrusive rock)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pink, salmon, or peach with black and white mottling; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Perfect on feldspar grains; Specific gravity: 2.63-2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Pink, salmon, or peach with black and white mottling
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pink, salmon, or peach with black and white mottling; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Perfect on feldspar grains; Specific gravity: 2.63-2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling and crystallization of felsic magma deep beneath the Earth's surface (plutonic). This specific specimen appears to be water-worn or tumbled, likely sourced from glacial till or riverbeds.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, and monuments. High-quality pink varieties are popular for decorative stonework and cemetery markers.
Geological facts
The pink color is caused by an abundance of potassium feldspar (orthoclase). Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust and is one of the hardest natural stones used by humans.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its 'salt and pepper' crystalline texture and the presence of visible pink feldspar, clear/grey quartz, and dark biotite or hornblende grains. Commonly found in batholiths and mountain ranges worldwide.
