igneous
Pink Granite
Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock (composed primarily of K-Feldspar, Quartz, and Plagioclase)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, reddish-orange, white, and black speckled; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Cleavage: Two directions in feldspar grains.
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Pink, reddish-orange, white, and black speckled
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Pink, reddish-orange, white, and black speckled; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline; Cleavage: Two directions in feldspar grains.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the slow cooling of silica-rich magma deep beneath the Earth's surface (plutonic). This specimen typically dates from the Precambrian to Cenozoic eras depending on the specific batholith origin.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, and monuments. It is also used as crushed stone for road base and railroad ballast.
Geological facts
The pink color is specifically due to a high concentration of potassium feldspar (orthoclase). Granite makes up much of the Earth's continental crust and is incredibly resistant to weathering.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its interlocking coarse crystals and distinctive pink/salmon hue mixed with clear quartz and dark biotite or hornblende. Commonly found in mountain ranges and continental shields like the Llano Uplift or the Canadian Shield.
