metamorphic
Unakite
Epidotized Granite
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Mottled green (epidote), pink (orthoclase), and clear/grey (quartz); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Massive/Phaneritic; Cleavage: None/Indistinct
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs)
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Mottled green (epidote), pink (orthoclase), and clear/grey (quartz); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Massive/Phaneritic; Cleavage: None/Indistinct
Formation & geological history
Formed through hydrothermal metamorphism of granite where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by epidote. Usually associated with mountain-building processes.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as a lapidary stone for cabochons, beads, and carvings. Also used occasionally as architectural facing or floor tiles.
Geological facts
Unakite was first discovered in the Unaka Range of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the United States, which is where it gets its name.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its unique pistachio-green and salmon-pink mottled appearance. Common in river beds and lake shores in Virginia, North Carolina, and the Great Lakes region.
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