igneous
Unakite
Granite composed of pink orthoclase feldspar, green epidote, and colorless quartz
Hardness of 6-7 on the Mohs scale, mottled pink and green coloration, vitreous to dull luster, cryptocrystalline to phaneritic texture, specific gravity around 2.8-3.0
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6-7 on the Mohs scale, mottled pink and green coloration, vitreous to dull luster, cryptocrystalline to phaneritic texture, specific gravity around 2.8-3.0
Formation & geological history
Formed by hydrothermal alteration of granitic rocks, where circulating hot water alters the original feldspar and other minerals into epidote. Typically Precambrian in age (hundreds of millions of years old).
Uses & applications
Used primarily as a decorative stone, tumbled stones, cabochons for jewelry, and occasionally carved into small objects like spheres or animals.
Geological facts
Unakite was first discovered in the Unaka Mountains of North Carolina, which is how it got its name. It is a specific type of altered granite rather than a distinct mineral species.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinctive and unique mottled mix of pink/peach and pistachio-green colors. Commonly found in glacial drift derived from granite-bearing mountain ranges, such as the Blue Ridge Mountains in the USA.
