metamorphic

Polished unakite

Unakite; altered granite composed mainly of epidote, pink potassium feldspar, and quartz

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 6–7 Mohs; opaque, olive-green with salmon-pink to reddish patches and a glassy-to-waxy polish. Massive, granular texture with no obvious cleavage in the finished surface; specific gravity roughly 2.7–3.4.

Identified September 21, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed when granite underwent hydrothermal alteration, replacing dark minerals and some feldspar with green epidote while preserving pink feldspar and quartz. It is generally Precambrian to Paleozoic in source age, depending on locality.

Uses & applications

Commonly cut into cabochons, spheres, worry stones, beads, and ornamental objects; also used as inexpensive lapidary material and decorative aggregate.

Geological facts

The contrasting green-and-pink pattern is its diagnostic feature, though similar epidote-rich rocks may be sold under the same name. It is not a single mineral but a distinctive rock assemblage.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by the mottled olive-green epidote and salmon-pink feldspar, granular appearance, and hardness sufficient to resist scratching by a steel knife. Classic material comes from the Unaka Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, USA.