metamorphic
Unakite Granite
Epidotized Granite
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Mottled green, pink, and gray; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic/Granular; Cleavage: None (fractures); Specific gravity: 2.85-3.00
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Mottled green, pink, and gray
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Mottled green, pink, and gray; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic/Granular; Cleavage: None (fractures); Specific gravity: 2.85-3.00
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal metamorphism of granite, where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by epidote. Usually associated with Proterozoic age formations in the Blue Ridge province.
Uses & applications
Used as a semi-precious gemstone for cabochons, beads, and carvings; also used in architectural stone and as a decorative landscaping rock.
Geological facts
Unakite is named after the Unaka Range of North Carolina and Tennessee, where it was first discovered. It is often cited as a stone of vision and balance.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive combination of pistachio-green epidote and salmon-pink orthoclase feldspar. Common in riverbeds of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Lake Superior beaches as glacial till.
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