metamorphic
Unakite
Granitic rock composed of orthoclase, epidote, and quartz
Hardness: 6-7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Mottled green and pink; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Triclinic and monoclinic (aggregate); Cleavage: Distinct in feldspar; Specific gravity: 2.6-3.0
- Hardness
- 6-7 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- Mottled green and pink
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Mottled green and pink; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Triclinic and monoclinic (aggregate); Cleavage: Distinct in feldspar; Specific gravity: 2.6-3.0
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal alteration (metamorphism) of granite, where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by pink orthoclase and green epidote.
Uses & applications
Used for making cabochons, beads, small carvings, spheres, and as a decorative architectural stone.
Geological facts
First discovered in the Unaka Mountains of North Carolina, from which it gets its name.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinctive pink and green mottled appearance. Commonly found in glacial drift derived from granitic terranes, particularly around the Blue Ridge Mountains in the USA.
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