metamorphic
Unakite
Altered Granite (Epidotized Granite)
Hardness: 6 to 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink/red (orthoclase feldspar) and mottled green (epidote), with minor quartz; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic and triclinic mineral grains; Cleavage: Variable depending on constituent minerals
- Hardness
- 6 to 7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6 to 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink/red (orthoclase feldspar) and mottled green (epidote), with minor quartz; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic and triclinic mineral grains; Cleavage: Variable depending on constituent minerals
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal metamorphism (metasomatism) of granite, where plagioclase feldspar is altered by epidote, while orthoclase feldspar and quartz remain intact.
Uses & applications
Popular as a lapidary material for cabochons, beads, carvings, decorative tiles, and tumbled gemstones for collectors.
Geological facts
Unakite was named after the Unaka Range of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina/Tennessee, USA, where it was first discovered.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive salmon-pink and dull pistachio-green mottled appearance. Commonly found in stream beds and beaches, particularly in the Appalachian Mountains and the Great Lakes region.
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