metamorphic
Unakite / Epidotized Granite
Metamorphic Granite (Epidote-Orthoclase-Quartz Rock)
Mohs hardness of 6.0-7.0. Pale olive-green to yellowish-green groundmass with distinctive reddish-pink or orange-pink orthoclase feldspar inclusions. Dull to earthy dull luster when raw, vitreous when polished. Granular texture.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 6.0-7.0. Pale olive-green to yellowish-green groundmass with distinctive reddish-pink or orange-pink orthoclase feldspar inclusions. Dull to earthy dull luster when raw, vitreous when polished. Granular texture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through hydrothermal metamorphism of granite where plagioclase feldspar is altered by epidote-rich fluid, transforming into a altered granite composed of pistachio-green epidote, pink orthoclase, and quartz.
Uses & applications
Widely used for lapidary work, cabochons, beads, decorative carvings, sphere production, and landscape architecture.
Geological facts
Unakite was first discovered in the Unaka Range of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina/Tennessee, USA, from which it gets its name.
Field identification & locations
Look for a distinct combination of pale olive-green (epidote) and reddish-pink (feldspar). Commonly found in stream beds, glacial tills, and mountainous areas with weathered granitic bedrock, such as the Appalachian region and Lake Superior shores.
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