metamorphic
Unakite
Unakite (Epidotized Granite)
Hardness: 6 to 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Mottled green and pink; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic and Trigonal; Cleavage: Poor; Specific gravity: 2.85 to 3.20.
- Hardness
- 6 to 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Mottled green and pink
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6 to 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Mottled green and pink; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic and Trigonal; Cleavage: Poor; Specific gravity: 2.85 to 3.20.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal metamorphism of granite, where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by epidote, while orthoclase feldspar and quartz remain.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a semiprecious gemstone for jewelry (beads, cabochons), carvings, and ornamental lapidary work.
Geological facts
Named after the Unaka Range in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina/Tennessee, USA, where it was first discovered and described.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive pistachio-green and salmon-pink mottled appearance. Found in riverbeds and as glacial drift, notably around the Great Lakes and the Appalachian Mountains.
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