08/11/2025
💎Mineral Monday: This week’s mineral is Unakite!
Technically not a mineral, but actually a type of rock, Unakite is a metamorphic stone made up of pink orthoclase, green epidote, and colorless to milky quartz. According to Geology.com “Unakite is a metamorphic rock that forms when granite (an igneous rock) is altered by hydrothermal metamorphism.” In more basic terms - this means Unakite is formed when granite is exposed to hot, chemically-active fluids (mainly water) that alters its mineral composition over time.
Named after the Unaka mountain range of western North Carolina and eastern Tennasee, Unakite is predominantly found here in the USA with other deposits found in countries such as South Africa, Sierra Leone, Brazil, and China. While not commonly seen in high-end jewelry, Unakite makes for great necklaces and bracelets, often in the form of beads or cabochons (a smoothed and polished gemstone) as well as polished palm stones. This is in part due to the stone's hardness, a 6 to 7 on the Moh’s hardness scale, which is likely from the large amounts of quartz in its structure.
Spiritually, Unakite is known for its unique ability to connect with one’s heart. It is said that best lends itself to pushing out negative and unneeded emotions, allowing for the release of “dead weight” feelings. This allows for clarity and deeper understanding of one's current emotional state of mind. Unakite is a stone of practicality and patience that celebrates new beginnings.
Photos and References:
https://thecrystalcouncil.com/crystals/unakite?srsltid=AfmBOoqm-97w267bZt_t0kVWTVMm9_S3aP7GpVkTloeiFcBJ2yz_fkRK
https://geology.com/gemstones/unakite/