metamorphic

Unakite / Red Jasper beach pebble

Altered Granite (Epidotized Feldspar and Quartz)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

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 July 22, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

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.