metamorphic
Unakite
Altered Granite (Epidotized Granite)
Hardness 6-7 on Mohs scale; distinctive mottled pink and green color; vitreous to dull luster; opaque clarity; specific gravity 2.85-3.20. Made of green epidote, pink orthoclase feldspar, and clear to grey quartz.
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Physical properties
Hardness 6-7 on Mohs scale; distinctive mottled pink and green color; vitreous to dull luster; opaque clarity; specific gravity 2.85-3.20. Made of green epidote, pink orthoclase feldspar, and clear to grey quartz.
Formation & geological history
Forms when granitic rock is modified by hydrothermal metamorphism. Heated fluids alter plagioclase feldspar into green epidote, retaining the pink orthoclase feldspar and quartz.
Uses & applications
Popular lapidary material used for cabochons, beads, carvings, and tumbled stones. Also used as an ornamental architectural stone.
Geological facts
First discovered in the Unaka Range of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, USA, from which it gets its name.
Field identification & locations
Recognized by its characteristic combination of salmon-pink and pistachio-green colors. Commonly found in the Unaka Mountains (USA), South Africa, Brazil, and China. Easy to identify due to its unique color pattern.
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