Igneous
Granite with Epidote
Granite, containing quartz, feldspar, and epidote
Hardness 6-7 (Mohs scale), colors include white, gray, clear (quartz), and pistachio green (epidote), blocky to granular crystal structure, dull to glassy luster depending on the minerals.
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Hardness 6-7 (Mohs scale), colors include white, gray, clear (quartz), and pistachio green (epidote), blocky to granular crystal structure, dull to glassy luster depending on the minerals.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling of magma deep underground (plutonic igneous rock). The epidote (the green patch) is often a result of hydrothermal alteration or regional metamorphism affecting the feldspar or mafic minerals.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in construction, flooring, monuments, and countertops. Epidote-rich variations (sometimes called Unakite if massive) are used for lapidary work.
Geological facts
The characteristic pistachio-green mineral seen is likely epidote, which forms as a secondary mineral in many igneous and metamorphic rock environments.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its coarse-grained interlocking texture of light-colored minerals (quartz and feldspar) with spots of accessory minerals like the green epidote. Found worldwide in continental crust.
