metamorphic
Unakite
Epidotized Granite
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Mottled green (epidote), pink (orthoclase), and gray (quartz); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: None/Inconspicuous
- 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 gray (quartz); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: None/Inconspicuous
Formation & geological history
Formed through hydrothermal metamorphism of granite, where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by epidote. Usually associated with Precambrian or Paleozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as a decorative stone, in jewelry (cabochons and beads), architectural trim, and as a healing stone in lapidary circles.
Geological facts
It was first discovered in the United States in the Unaka Range of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, from which it gets its name.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive pistachio-green and salmon-pink mottled appearance. Common along the shores of Lake Superior and in riverbeds of the Appalachian Mountains.
