metamorphic
Unakite
Unakite; epidote–pink feldspar–quartz rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness about 6–7 Mohs; mottled salmon-pink, green, and white, with granular texture and vitreous to dull luster. Composed chiefly of pink orthoclase/microcline feldspar, green epidote, and quartz; no prominent cleavage as a whole.
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Physical properties
Hardness about 6–7 Mohs; mottled salmon-pink, green, and white, with granular texture and vitreous to dull luster. Composed chiefly of pink orthoclase/microcline feldspar, green epidote, and quartz; no prominent cleavage as a whole.
Formation & geological history
Formed when granite underwent hydrothermal alteration or metamorphism, replacing dark minerals with epidote while preserving feldspar and quartz. It is generally Precambrian to Paleozoic in source-rock age, depending on locality.
Uses & applications
Used as polished stone, cabochons, beads, spheres, ornaments, and lapidary material; occasionally used decoratively as dimension stone.
Geological facts
Its distinctive pink-and-green pattern makes it relatively easy to recognize, though similar epidote-bearing granites occur widely. The name comes from the Unaka Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by the salmon-pink feldspar, pistachio-green epidote, and white quartz mosaic; fresh surfaces are more diagnostic than weathered ones. Classic material occurs in the Unaka Mountains, while similar rock is found in Brazil, South Africa, China, and the United States.
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