Judging quality
Look for bold contrast between pink and green and a hard even polish. Dull, muddy material is common.
Granite
Unakite
An altered granite of pistachio epidote, salmon feldspar and clear quartz, named for the Unaka Range of the Appalachians.
Care
Durable. Soap and water.
History & lore
River-tumbled unakite cobbles are a familiar find along the Blue Ridge and the shores of Lake Superior.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Unakite
- What is Unakite?
- An altered granite of pistachio epidote, salmon feldspar and clear quartz, named for the Unaka Range of the Appalachians.
- How hard is Unakite and what is it made of?
- Unakite is a Granite-family mineral with the composition Epidote / feldspar / quartz. It crystallizes in the mixed system and rates 6-7 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in green, pink.
- Where does Unakite come from?
- Notable localities for Unakite include USA (North Carolina, Virginia), South Africa, China.
- How do you tell good Unakite from filler?
- Look for bold contrast between pink and green and a hard even polish. Dull, muddy material is common.
- How do you care for Unakite?
- Durable. Soap and water.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.