metamorphic
Unakite / Red Jasper beach pebble
Altered Granite (Epidotized Feldspar and Quartz)
Hardness 6-7 on Mohs scale; reddish-brown to pinkish-orange Jasper/Orthoclase with mottled green Epidote inclusions; vitreous to dull luster; microcrystalline/massive structure; high resistance to weathering.
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Unakite / Red Jasper beach pebble in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness 6-7 on Mohs scale; reddish-brown to pinkish-orange Jasper/Orthoclase with mottled green Epidote inclusions; vitreous to dull luster; microcrystalline/massive structure; high resistance to weathering.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal alteration of granitic rock, where plagioclase feldspar is converted into green epidote while microcline feldspar and quartz remain. Naturally rounded and smoothed by water action along rivers or coastal beaches.
Uses & applications
Popular for rock tumbling, lapidary arts, cabochons, decorative carvings, and landscape ornamentation.
Geological facts
Unakite is named after the Unaka Mountains in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, where it was first discovered. Beach-tumbled pebbles like this often exhibit natural polish due to millions of wave impacts.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive mottled combination of pinkish-red feldspar/jasper and pistachio-green epidote. Commonly found on ocean beaches, riverbeds, and gravel bars in glaciated or metamorphic terrains.
More like this
