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: Coarse-grained phaneritic; Cleavage: Poor; Specific gravity: 2.85-3.00
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs)
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
Identified More metamorphic →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Mottled green (epidote), pink (orthoclase feldspar), and clear/grey (quartz); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Coarse-grained phaneritic; Cleavage: Poor; Specific gravity: 2.85-3.00
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal metamorphism of granite, where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by green epidote. This process typically occurs in mountain belts during tectonic events.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as a gemstone for beads and cabochons, as an architectural stone, and for decorative carvings or landscaping rocks.
Geological facts
It was first discovered in the Unaka Range of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee, from which it gets its name. It is the state rock of Virginia.
Field identification & locations
Identified by the distinct combination of pistachio-green epidote and salmon-pink orthoclase. Commonly found in riverbeds and pebble beaches near the Appalachian Mountains and Lake Superior.
More like this
