metamorphic
Unakite (likely)
Epidote–K-feldspar–quartz aggregate; commonly derived from altered granite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness about 6–7 Mohs; mottled pistachio-green epidote and pink feldspar with minor quartz, vitreous to dull luster, granular texture, no prominent cleavage as a whole, and specific gravity roughly 2.7–3.4.
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Physical properties
Hardness about 6–7 Mohs; mottled pistachio-green epidote and pink feldspar with minor quartz, vitreous to dull luster, granular texture, no prominent cleavage as a whole, and specific gravity roughly 2.7–3.4.
Formation & geological history
Forms when granite undergoes hydrothermal alteration, replacing minerals with green epidote while preserving pink feldspar; typically Precambrian to Paleozoic host-rock ages, depending on locality.
Uses & applications
Commonly cut and polished for cabochons, beads, spheres, carvings, and ornamental stone; it has modest collector value and limited architectural use.
Geological facts
The image shows a small rough, multicolored specimen strongly resembling unakite, though lighting and weathering make exact identification uncertain without testing.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive pink-and-green mottling, opaque granular texture, and lack of crystal faces; classic material occurs in the Unaka Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, with similar rocks worldwide.
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