igneous
Unakite
Altered Granite (composed of pink orthoclase feldspar, green epidote, and colorless quartz)
Hardness of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, mottled pink and green color, vitreous to dull luster, cryptocrystalline to microcrystalline structure, poor cleavage, specific gravity of 2.8 to 3.0
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, mottled pink and green color, vitreous to dull luster, cryptocrystalline to microcrystalline structure, poor cleavage, specific gravity of 2.8 to 3.0
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal alteration (metamorphism) of granite, where hot fluids alter the original minerals like plagioclase into epidote.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in lapidary arts, tumbled stones, cabochons for jewelry, and ornamental carvings.
Geological facts
First discovered in the Unaka Mountains of North Carolina, from which it gets its name.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinct mottled pink and green coloration. Found worldwide including the US, South Africa, Brazil, and China.
