igneous
Pink Granite
Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock (Granite, rich in Potassium Feldspar)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, reddish-orange with speckles of grey and black; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained visible crystals); Cleavage: Perfect in two directions for the feldspar component.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pink, reddish-orange with speckles of grey and black
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, reddish-orange with speckles of grey and black; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained visible crystals); Cleavage: Perfect in two directions for the feldspar component.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling of silica-rich magma deep underground (plutonic). The pink hue comes from an abundance of potassium feldspar (orthoclase). Found in continental crust ranging from Precambrian to Cenozoic ages.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base. Higher quality specimens are polished for architectural decorative stone.
Geological facts
Pink granite is the state rock of New Hampshire and is famous for forming large batholiths like the Enchanted Rock in Texas. Its durability makes it one of the oldest building materials used by humans, including in Egyptian pyramids.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by the salt-and-pepper texture with a dominant pink/salmon background and the inability to be scratched by a steel knife. Commonly found in mountainous regions or glacial deposits.
