metamorphic
Unakite
Unakite (Metasomatized Granite)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Mottled green (epidote) and pink (orthoclase feldspar) with white or grey quartz, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Crystal Structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic, Cleavage: None/Poor
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Mottled green (epidote) and pink (orthoclase feldspar) with white or grey quartz, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Crystal Structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic, Cleavage: None/Poor
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal metasomatism of granite, where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by epidote. It is often found in riverbeds and glacial till.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in lapidary work for making cabochons, beads, and decorative carvings; also used occasionally as architectural stone or floor tiles.
Geological facts
It was first discovered in the Unaka Range of North Carolina, for which it is named. It is sometimes used as a cheap alternative to more expensive green and pink gemstones.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive combination of pistachio-green and salmon-pink minerals. Commonly found in Virginia, North Carolina, and around the Great Lakes where it was deposited by glaciers.
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