metamorphic
Unakite
Epidotized Granite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 6-7 on the Mohs scale, dull to vitreous luster, characteristic mottled salmon-pink and pistachio-green coloration.
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Physical properties
Hardness 6-7 on the Mohs scale, dull to vitreous luster, characteristic mottled salmon-pink and pistachio-green coloration.
Formation & geological history
Formed via metasomatic alteration of granitic igneous rock where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by epidote through hydrothermal activity.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as a lapidary material for cabochons, beads, decorative carvings, architectural facing, and tumbled stones.
Geological facts
First discovered in the Unaka Range of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee, from which it derives its name.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinctive combination of salmon-pink orthoclase feldspar and pistachio-green epidote; widely found in riverbeds and gravel deposits in the eastern US.
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