Unakite

Unakite is an interesting semi precious stone comprised of an amalgamation of Epidote, clear Quartz, and green Feldspar. It has a bright contrasting pink and green colour.

It is commonly found on the shores of Lake Superior, on the US / Canadian border. It is found in several other locations worldwide, including Sierra Leone, Brazil, China, and the state of Virginia.

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Appearance, Uses and History

Unakite gains its name from the Unakas mountains of North Carolina, USA.

Unakite is considered a semi precious stone, and is often used for jewellery making, particularly beads and cabochons. However, it is rarely found in commercial high street jewellery.

Lapidary artists may also carve eggs, spheres, and other shapes – a good polish shows off the contrasting colours very nicely. It is abundant, attractive, and relatively cheap as a material.

Unakite is rarely used as an architectural stone. It is used on the front steps of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC and as floor tiles in another area of the museum.


Locales

Unakite is found in Australia, Brazil, China, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and the USA.


Mineralogy

Chemistry
A type of Granite comprised of feldspar, epidote, and quartz.

Some material without any feldspar is referred to as epidosite.

Colours and Variations
A mottled mixed of green, salmon pink, and yellow green. Occasionally with some white patches.
Streak
Luster
Pearly
Fracture
Transparency
Opaque
Crystal habit
Massive
Mohs hardness
6.0 – 7.0
Specific Gravity
2.55 – 2.85
Fluorescence
N/A
Easiest testing method
Visual inspection ought to be enough. 🙂
Common Treatments
None.

Hazards and Warnings

Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis.

When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.


Translations

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Japanese:

  • ユナカイト

Spanish:

German:

  • Unakit

Korean:

Thai:

Gujurati:

Mandarin and Traditional Chinese:

  • 綠簾花崗石

Urdu:


Further Reading / External Links