Unakite polished point natural mineral
Size-
6.4cm x 4.7cm x 5.5cm
Weight-
192g
You will receive the item in the photo
Unakite is technically a metamorphic rock, not a single mineral crystal. Because it is composite rock made of several distinct minerals, it does not have a single uniform crystal system or mineral class.
Rock formation- metamorphic rock. (Specifically an epidotized granite). It forms when original igneous granite undergoes hydrothermal alteration. Hot,mineral rich fluids transform the original plagioclase feldspar into green epidote,while the pink orthoclase feldspar and quartz remain intact.
Hardness- 6-7 on the MOHs scale. Because it is a mixture of minerals,the hardness can very slightly depending on the exact composition of the piece.
Mineral class- As a rock, it contains multiple mineral classes. All three primary component minerals all belong to the silicates class specifically Quartz is a Tectosilicate, orthoclase is a Tectosilicate feldspar and epidote is a sorosilicatate.
Crystal system- it does not have a single crystal system because it occurs in macro-crystalline aggregates (masses).However its individual mineral parts do: Monoclinic for the epidote and orthoclase feldspar and trigonal/hexagonal for the quartz.
Unakite owes its distinctive moss-on-brick green and pink marbled aesthetic to three specific minerals working together.
• Epidote: Gives the rock its pistachio or olive green colour.
• Orthoclase: Gives the rock its distinct salmon-pink patches.
• Quartz: Appears as clear,white or gray crystalline grains that lock the other minerals together.
