metamorphic
Unakite
Metamorphosed Granite (Orthoclase, Epidote, Quartz)
Hardness: 6-7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Mottled green (epidote) and pink (orthoclase feldspar) with clear to grey quartz. Luster: Dull to vitreous. Structure: Granular metamorphic/plutonic texture.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on the Mohs scale
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Mottled green (epidote) and pink (orthoclase feldspar) with clear to grey quartz. Luster: Dull to vitreous. Structure: Granular metamorphic/plutonic texture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through hydrothermal metamorphism of granite, where plagioclase feldspar is altered by epidote-bearing fluids while quartz and pink orthoclase remain present.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as an ornamental stone, lapidary material for cabochons and beads, carvings, and tumbled stones for pebble collections.
Geological facts
Unakite was first discovered in the Unaka Range of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, USA, after which it was named.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified in the field by its distinct combination of pistachio-green epidote and salmon-pink feldspar. Commonly found along stream beds, gravel bars, and mountain ranges in North Carolina and Virginia, USA, as well as South Africa and Brazil.
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