metamorphic
Unakite
Unakite (Epidotized Granite)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Mottled green (epidote) and pink (orthoclase feldspar) with some clear/grey quartz; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic mixture; Cleavage: Generally poor/none in bulk form; Specific Gravity: 2.85 - 3.20.
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Mottled green (epidote) and pink (orthoclase feldspar) with some clear/grey quartz; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic mixture; Cleavage: Generally poor/none in bulk form; Specific Gravity: 2.85 - 3.20.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal metamorphism of granite, where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by green epidote. Most specimens are associated with the Proterozoic/Precambrian era found in the Appalachian Mountains.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a semiprecious gemstone for jewelry (beads, cabochons), carvings, decorative architectural stone, and as a popular choice for lapidary tumbling.
Geological facts
Unakite was first discovered in the Unaka Range of the Appalachian Mountains in the United States, from which it takes its name. It is the state rock of Virginia.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive 'pistachio and salmon' color combination. In the field, look for it in riverbeds and gravel bars specifically in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, or found as glacial drift in the Great Lakes region.
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