Epidote is a silicate mineral that is commonly found in regionally metamorphosed rocks of low-to-moderate grade. In these rocks, epidote is often associated with amphiboles, feldspars, quartz, and chlorite. It occurs as replacements of mineral grains that have been altered by metamorphism. It is frequently found in veins that cut granite. It occurs as monoclinic crystals in pegmatites. It is also found in massive form and as monoclinic crystals in marbles and schists that were formed or altered through contact metamorphism.
Epidote usually ranges between yellowish green to pistachio green in color. Less often it is brownish green to black. In massive form it is usually translucent with a vitreous luster. Well-formed crystals from marble and pegmatite are often transparent.
Epidote has a chemical composition of Ca2(Al2,Fe)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH). It is an end member of a solid solution series with clinozoisite. In that series, the iron of epidote is gradually replaced by aluminum to the end member clinozoisite composition of Ca2Al3(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH). Clinozoisite is usually lighter in color than epidote because iron is what produces epidote's greenish to brownish color.
Physical Properties
Sources: Geology.com
Epidote usually ranges between yellowish green to pistachio green in color. Less often it is brownish green to black. In massive form it is usually translucent with a vitreous luster. Well-formed crystals from marble and pegmatite are often transparent.
Epidote has a chemical composition of Ca2(Al2,Fe)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH). It is an end member of a solid solution series with clinozoisite. In that series, the iron of epidote is gradually replaced by aluminum to the end member clinozoisite composition of Ca2Al3(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH). Clinozoisite is usually lighter in color than epidote because iron is what produces epidote's greenish to brownish color.
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| Epiodte |
Occurrence of Epidote
Epidote is a rock-forming mineral. Many regionally-metamorphosed rocks contain small amounts of epidote. Two rock types that contain significant amounts of epidote are epidosite and unakite. Locations where these rocks can be found are rare, but at those locations significant amounts of these rocks can be present.
Epidosite is a metamorphic rock composed mainly of epidote with small amounts of quartz. It forms when basalts in sheeted dikes and ophiolites are transformed by hydrothermal activity or metasomatism.
Unakite is a rock that forms from the metamorphism of granite. Less-resistant minerals in the granite are altered to epidote or replaced by epidote, with the orthoclase and quartz remaining. It is an interesting pink and green colored rock that was first discovered in the Unakas Mountains of North Carolina, from which its name was derived.
Epidosite is a metamorphic rock composed mainly of epidote with small amounts of quartz. It forms when basalts in sheeted dikes and ophiolites are transformed by hydrothermal activity or metasomatism.
Unakite is a rock that forms from the metamorphism of granite. Less-resistant minerals in the granite are altered to epidote or replaced by epidote, with the orthoclase and quartz remaining. It is an interesting pink and green colored rock that was first discovered in the Unakas Mountains of North Carolina, from which its name was derived.
Physical Properties
| Mineral | Chemical Composition |
| Allanite | (CaX)(Al2Fe)(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH) X is one of these rare earths: Ce, La, Nd, Y. |
| Askagenite | (MnNd)(Al2Fe)(Si2O7)(SiO4)O2 |
| Clinozoisite | Ca2Al3(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH) Sr sometimes substitutes for one Ca. |
| Dissakisite | (CaX)(Al2Mg)(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH) X can be Ce or La. |
| Dollaseite | (CaCe)(Mg2Al)(Si2O7)(SiO4)(OH)F |
| Epidote | Ca2(Al2Fe)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH) Pb or Sr can substitute for one of the calcium. |
| Ferriallanite | (CaX)(Fe2Al)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH) X can be Ce or La. |
| Hancockite | (CaPb)(Al2(Fe,Mn)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH) |
| Khristovite | (CaCe)(MgAlMn)(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH)F |
| Manganipiemontite | (XY)(Mn2Al)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH) (XY) can be (MnLa) or (CaSr). |
| Mukhinite | (Ca2)(Al2V)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH) |
| Piemontite | (X)(Al2Mn)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH) (X) can be (Ca2), (CaPb) or (CaSr). |
| Uedaite | (MnCe)(Al2Fe)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH) |
| Zoisite | Ca2Al3(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH) |
Uses of Epidote
Epidote has no significant use as an industrial mineral and has only minor use as a gemstone. High-quality transparent crystals are sometimes cut into faceted stones. These have never attracted much interest in the commercial jewelry market, probably because their colors are not customer favorites. Most of the faceted stones produced are purchased by gem and mineral collectors.
Unakite is a popular rock used by lapidaries to make beads, ornamental objects, and cut into cabochons. It is considered to be a semiprecious stone. The bright pink and pistachio green colors are very unusual and attract attention. Unakite is popular as a tumbled stone. A small amount of epidosite is also cut into cabochons.
Unakite is a popular rock used by lapidaries to make beads, ornamental objects, and cut into cabochons. It is considered to be a semiprecious stone. The bright pink and pistachio green colors are very unusual and attract attention. Unakite is popular as a tumbled stone. A small amount of epidosite is also cut into cabochons.
Sources: Geology.com
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