metamorphic
Unakite
Epidotized Granite
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Mottled green (epidote), pink (orthoclase feldspar), and clear/gray (quartz); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic mixture; Cleavage: Often indistinct due to coarse grain; Specific Gravity: 2.85-3.20.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Mottled green (epidote), pink (orthoclase feldspar), and clear/gray (quartz); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic mixture; Cleavage: Often indistinct due to coarse grain; Specific Gravity: 2.85-3.20.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal alterations of granite, where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by epidote. Usually associated with Precambrian or Paleozoic metamorphic terrains.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as a decorative stone, in lapidary work for cabochons, beads, and architectural stone (tiles and countertops). Also popular in metaphysical circles.
Geological facts
Unakite is named after the Unaka Range of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina/Tennessee, USA, where it was first discovered. It is the state rock of Virginia.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive salmon-pink and pistachio-green mottling. It is commonly found as pebbles and cobbles in riverbeds near the Blue Ridge Mountains or in glacial till in the Great Lakes region.
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