metamorphic
Unakite
Altered Granite (Orthoclase + Epidote + Quartz)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Mottled green (epidote) and pink (orthoclase feldspar) with clear to grey quartz; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal Structure: Massive, coarse-grained, non-foliated; Cleavage: Irregular fracture.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Unakite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Mottled green (epidote) and pink (orthoclase feldspar) with clear to grey quartz; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal Structure: Massive, coarse-grained, non-foliated; Cleavage: Irregular fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through hydrothermal metamorphism of granite where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by green epidote mineral, typically occurring in Precambrian or ancient mountain-building zones.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as an ornamental stone, cabochons for jewelry, lapidary carvings, decorative tiles, and as a popular tumbled rock for collectors.
Geological facts
Unakite was first discovered in the Unaka Mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, USA, from which it gets its name.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinct combination of pistachio-green epidote and salmon-pink K-feldspar. Widely found in the Appalachian region of the United States, as well as South Africa, Brazil, and China.
More like this
