metamorphic
Unakite
Altered Granite (Granitic Metamorphic Rock)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6-7 on the Mohs scale, with a distinctive mottled green, pink, and white color. Displays a subvitreous to greasy luster and a massive, granular crystal structure with no significant cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6-7 on the Mohs scale, with a distinctive mottled green, pink, and white color. Displays a subvitreous to greasy luster and a massive, granular crystal structure with no significant cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal alteration of granitic rocks, where orthoclase feldspar, epidote, and quartz recrystallize. It typically develops in zones of hydrothermal activity within ancient mountain-building events.
Uses & applications
Commonly cut and polished into cabochons, beads, and decorative spheres for jewelry and ornamental carvings. Also valued by mineral collectors for its vibrant contrast of pink and green minerals.
Geological facts
Unakite was first discovered in the Unaka Mountains of North Carolina, from which it derives its name. The green color is primarily due to altered epidote, while the pink comes from orthoclase feldspar.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified in the field by its unmistakable mottled pink and green coloration interspersed with clear quartz grains. Frequently found in glacial drift derived from granite-rich orogenic belts globally.
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