metamorphic
Unakite
Unakite (Epidotized Granite)
Hardness: 6 to 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Mottled green (epidote), pink (orthoclase feldspar), and clear/grey (quartz); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic mixture; Cleavage: Generally none/irregular due to it being a rock composite.
- 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: Mottled green (epidote), pink (orthoclase feldspar), and clear/grey (quartz); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic/Triclinic mixture; Cleavage: Generally none/irregular due to it being a rock composite.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal alteration of granite where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by epidote. Most specimens date back to the Proterozoic era and are found in mountain ranges and glacial deposits.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a semi-precious gemstone for cabochons, beads, and carvings. Also used as an architectural stone and for decorative lapidary work.
Geological facts
Unakite was first discovered in the Unaka Mountains of North Carolina/Tennessee, from which it gets its name. It is the state rock of Virginia.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive pistachio-green and salmon-pink mottled appearance. It is commonly found as river pebbles or cobbles in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the USA and in glacial till around the Great Lakes.
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