metamorphic
Unakite-like jasper / epidote–feldspar rock
Epidote–feldspar–quartz aggregate; commonly marketed as unakite or brecciated jasper
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness about 6–7 Mohs; mottled salmon-pink, olive-green, gray, and cream colors with a polished vitreous-to-waxy luster. It is a granular, nonfoliated aggregate with no obvious cleavage; approximate specific gravity 2.6–2.9.
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Physical properties
Hardness about 6–7 Mohs; mottled salmon-pink, olive-green, gray, and cream colors with a polished vitreous-to-waxy luster. It is a granular, nonfoliated aggregate with no obvious cleavage; approximate specific gravity 2.6–2.9.
Formation & geological history
Formed by hydrothermal alteration or metamorphism of granitic material, producing pink feldspar, green epidote, and quartz; precise age depends on locality, commonly Paleozoic to Precambrian. The rounded surface indicates tumbling or polishing.
Uses & applications
Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, polished stones, and decorative objects; it has little architectural or industrial use. Common tumbled pieces are inexpensive collector material.
Geological facts
Classic unakite is a pink-and-green altered granite, while similar material may be sold as epidote jasper or ocean jasper. The specimen’s irregular red-green-gray pattern is consistent with a polished unakite-like aggregate.
Field identification & locations
Identify by the distinctive pink feldspar–green epidote contrast, granular texture, and lack of glassy transparency; it should not fizz with dilute acid. Unakite is notably associated with the Unaka Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, USA, and occurs elsewhere worldwide.
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