metamorphic
Unakite
Epidotized Granite
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Mottled green (epidote), pink (orthoclase feldspar), and clear/grey (quartz); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic mixture; Cleavage: None visible in rock form.
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs)
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Mottled green (epidote), pink (orthoclase feldspar), and clear/grey (quartz); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic mixture; Cleavage: None visible in rock form.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal metamorphism of granite, where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by epidote. Heavily associated with the Proterozoic era and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as a gemstone for jewelry (beads, cabochons), lapidary carvings, architectural stone, and decorative floor tiles.
Geological facts
Unakite was first discovered in the Unaka Range of North Carolina, USA, from which it derives its name. It is the state rock of Virginia.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive salmon-pink and pistachio-green mottled appearance. It can be found in riverbeds as pebbles, particularly in Virginia and North Carolina, and along the shores of Lake Superior.
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