Unakite beads are from beautiful opaque stone that combines soft swirling shades of pink, green, grey, is a rock, meaning it’s composed of several minerals. (As opposed to stones like emerald or ruby, which are distinct minerals, emerald being beryl, and ruby being corundum.) Unakite is most commonly defined as granite that’s composed of white/grey quartz, pink/red feldspar, and green epidote. 

            It was first identified in 1874 by Bradley, who dubbed it “Unakyte, an epidotic rock.”   He named it for the place where it was found, the Unaka range, a part of the Appalachian Mountain Chain that runs along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. Unakite is also found in Michigan on the shores of Lake Superior, and in South Africa. 

            Unakite, considered a semi-precious stone, is relatively new to the gem market but is quickly becoming popular.   For gem use, it’s always tumbled. It’s a fairly hard stone and can used for any type of jewelry.

Unakite Beads Astrology: Connected with Scorpio

Chakras:   4^th (heart)

Unakite beads goes beautifully with the red and green garnets, red jasper and green jade, and pink and green tourmaline, and grey pearls. If you have a reddish unakite, pair it with bloodstone; if you have unakite that is more pink, try it with rhodochrosite and/or pink coral.   For a piece with interesting contrasts, bead unakite with labradorite and rutilated quartz.

Unakite beads Color: mix of pink, green, and white/grey

Mineral compostion:   Epidote, potassium feldspar, and quartz

Mohs’ hardness: 6-7

Transparency: Opaque

Luster: Pearly to subvitreous

Fracture: Irregular

Crystal system: Epidote:  Massive ( finely crystalline)

                           Orthoclase: Monoclinic

                           Quartz: Triogonal

Specific Gravity: 2.55-2.85

Occurrence:   South Africa, Eastern United States