Unakite

Unakite is an altered Granite consisting primarily of pink to orange Orthoclase Feldspar, clear Quartz and green Epidote. It is named for the Unakas Mountains of North Carolina, USA where it was first discovered. It has also been called “Pompton Granite” for its occurrence at the Pompton Junction Feldspar deposit, Pompton Lakes, Passaic County, New Jersey, USA. Unakite exists in various shades of green and pink or orange and is mottled in appearance. Good quality Unakite will take a good polish and is often used in jewelry and other lapidary work such as cabochons, spheres and carvings.

In addition to the occurrence in North Carolina, Unakite can be found as pebbles on the shores of Lake Superior and in Virginia river valleys having been washed down from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Unakite is also reported from South Africa, Brazil, Russia and China.