metamorphic
Polished unakite pebble
Unakite: epidote, pink orthoclase feldspar, and quartz
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMottled orange-pink and green, with a dull to vitreous polish; individual grains are typically Mohs 6–7. The specimen’s rounded, polished form obscures grain boundaries, so the identification is visual and provisional.
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Physical properties
Mottled orange-pink and green, with a dull to vitreous polish; individual grains are typically Mohs 6–7. The specimen’s rounded, polished form obscures grain boundaries, so the identification is visual and provisional.
Formation & geological history
Formed when granite was altered by hydrothermal fluids, converting some feldspar to green epidote; unakite occurs in metamorphic and altered igneous settings, with ages varying by locality.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative stone, jewelry material, and lapidary pebble.
Geological facts
Its distinctive green-and-pink pattern comes mainly from epidote and potassium feldspar.
Field identification & locations
Look for mottled green and salmon-pink areas in a granular stone; it is known from the Unaka Range of the southeastern United States and other localities. This polished specimen cannot be reliably sourced from appearance alone.
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