Unakite is a unique and beautiful stone that is growing in popularity for use in jewelry and other decorative items. But where exactly does this colorful stone come from? Here is an overview of where unakite stone can be found across the world.
The United States
The vast majority of unakite stone comes from deposits found right here in the United States. In fact, it was first discovered in the United States back in the 1870s along the Unakas Mountains of North Carolina. This is where the stone got its name from – "unakite" referring to the Unakas Mountain range.
Since that first discovery, other deposits of unakite have been uncovered across various states including Virginia, California, New Mexico, and Michigan. But North Carolina remains the premier source. Certain counties in the western half of the state, especially Macon County and Jackson County, contain rich unakite deposits and actively mine this stone.
Another factor that makes the U.S. the prime source of unakite is that it has the proper geological conditions for the stone to form. Unakite typically develops when feldspar-rich granite encounters and mixes with metamorphic or volcanic rock. The United States has plenty of regions, like the Appalachian Mountains, where these different rock types intersect and provide the right setting for unakite to develop.
Brazil
While not as prolific of a source as the United States, Brazil does contain some deposits of unakite stone. In particular, the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has quantities of the stone located throughout its mountainous interior. The town of Lajeado in central Rio Grande do Sul was once home to a thriving unakite mining industry, though operations have declined in modern times.
Other areas of Brazil may sporadically turn up unakite deposits as well. But Rio Grande do Sul represents the primary source in the country. The presence of unakite here also demonstrates that the right geological conditions exist in parts of South America for this stone to form.
China
China contains small quantities of unakite, typically found in the central and southern parts of the country. Provinces such as Henan, Hunan, and Fujian have produced unakite samples. However, Chinese unakite is relatively rare and not actively mined. The source deposits in China are much smaller than the expansive unakite beds found across parts of the United States.
Other Sources
Aside from the three main sources of the United States, Brazil, and China, unakite has appeared in very limited quantities in a few other parts of the world. Small deposits have been found sporadically in Australia. Specific European sources include parts of Russia and the Swiss Alps. Overall though, these occurrences are minor and not sufficient for commercial mining.
So while the United States does not have an exclusive claim on the world's unakite, it remains the predominant source that supplies markets around the globe. The unique concentration of metamorphic rock, granite, and other ideal geological conditions across parts of the U.S. make it the prime location to mine and obtain this beautifully colored and patterned semi-precious stone.
