metamorphic
Epidosite with Quartz (Unakite-variant or Jasper)
Epidotized Metasomatite
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: pistachio-green, brown, and black banding; Luster: waxy to vitreous; Crystal structure: monoclinic (epidote component); Cleavage: perfect (epidote) but typically massive in specimens.
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- pistachio-green, brown, and black banding
- Luster
- waxy to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: pistachio-green, brown, and black banding; Luster: waxy to vitreous; Crystal structure: monoclinic (epidote component); Cleavage: perfect (epidote) but typically massive in specimens.
Formation & geological history
Formed through hydrothermal metasomatism where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by epidote. This specimen shows distinct banding, likely from basaltic or metamorphic parent rock altered by mineral-rich fluids.
Uses & applications
Used in lapidary work for cabochons, beads, and decorative carvings; also collected as a representative specimen of hydrothermal alteration.
Geological facts
The green color is primarily due to the mineral Epidote, which is a calcium aluminum iron silicate. When this green mineral is mixed with pink orthoclase and quartz, it is known specifically as Unakite.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive pistachio-green veins or bands against a darker matrix. Commonly found in riverbeds and mountainous regions like the Blue Ridge Mountains in the USA.
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