Epidote is a very dense and fragile mineral. It has a distinct cleavage and is rarely cut as a gemstone. Epidote crystal is yellow, green, or dark brown columnar prisms. It has finely striated faces parallel to the crystal’s length. Pleochroism is strong, showing either green, yellow, or brown. Epidote rock may be polished or tumbled and sold as ‘unakite.’
Occurrence
A dark green-brown Epidote crystal occurs in the French and Austrian Alps. It is also found in Italy, the island of Elba (Italy), the former USSR, Mexico, and Mozambique.
Epidote Properties
- Specific Gravity: 3.40
- Refractive Index: 1.74-1.78
- Birefringence (DR): 0.035
- Luster: Vitreous
- Crystal Structure: Monoclinic
- Composition: Calcium aluminum iron hydroxysilicate
- Hardness: 6½
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