metamorphic
Unakite
Epidotized Granite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Mottled green (epidote), pink (orthoclase feldspar), and gray/clear (quartz); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic; Specific gravity: 2.85-3.26
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Mottled green (epidote), pink (orthoclase feldspar), and gray/clear (quartz); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic; Specific gravity: 2.85-3.26
Formation & geological history
Formed when granite is altered by hydrothermal activity, where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by green epidote. Most specimens were formed during the Precambrian to Paleozoic eras in metamorphic belts.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as a decorative stone, for jewelry (cabochons and beads), carvings, architectural facings, and as an ornamental landscaping stone.
Geological facts
Unakite gets its name from the Unaka Range in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the United States, where it was first discovered. It is the state rock of Virginia.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive 'pistachio green' and 'salmon pink' mottled appearance. Commonly found in riverbeds and on beaches, particularly in the Appalachian Mountains and the Great Lakes region (as glacial drift).
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