Epidote - Encyclopedia

    Class : Silicates
    Subclass : Sorosilicates
    Crystal system : Monoclinic
    Chemistry : Ca2FeAl2(SiO4)3(OH)
    Rarity : Very common


The epidote is a silicate characteristic of regional metamorphism of low pressures and low temperatures (greenschist facies) and contact metamorphism. Associated with chlorites, it is frequently a product of alteration of gneisses and amphibolites formed at the expense of hornblende and feldspars. The epidote also appears as hydrothermal alteration mineral around the metal deposits. Very resistant to atmospheric agents, it concentrates well in alluvium. The epidote is the main representative of a group of complex sorosilicates to which it gave its name. By replacing iron with aluminum, a continuous epidote-clinozoisite series is obtained, while the replacement of iron by manganese leads to piemontite. It is a mineral that takes its name from the Greek epidosis (increase, increase) because the base of the prism has one side larger than the other. It has long been confused with tourmaline. The epidote crystals are elongated prismatic, sometimes acicular and can form fans, with deeply grooved sides longitudinally. More rarely the epidote forms thick tabular crystals, compact, fibrous, granular masses, or crystallinity invisible to the naked eye (the pistachite). It can also be found in pseudo-octahedral crystals. The classic epidote has a green color with various hues : yellowish green to pistachio green and green-black, but may also be greenish-brown in color ; it is exceptionally colorless. Pleochroism is visible on gemmy crystals passing from green to brown. The epidote is sometimes used as a gemstone, the gemstones can be faceted although it is found more abundantly in the form of cabochons. Indeed, some epidotized granitoids of a beautiful green and orange hue are worked as ornamental stone and sold under the trade name of unakite. Gem quality crystals are sought after by mineral collectors.

Doubly-terminated epidote  from Skardu District, Pakistan
Pseudo-octahedral epidote of Raskoh Mounts, Pakistan
Gemmy epidote from Val di Viù, Piedmont, Italy
43.84 ct unakite cabochon from South Africa

Epidote in the World

Among the many localities to have produced epidote crystals, we can mention the alpine clefts that contain the most beautiful crystals in the world. The most famous site (today protected by a nature reserve) is the Knappenwand (Austria), which has provided extraordinary elongated prismatic crystals, dark green commonly reaching 10 cm and exceptionally 50 cm by 8 cm section, often gemmy forming parallel groups ; the epidote is associated with titanite, quartz, byssolite, and hematite. Outstanding quality gemmy crystals come from the Skardu district in the mountains of northern Pakistan. Also in Pakistan, the Raskoh Mountains produced crystals of several decimeters with elongated, tabular and pseudo-octahedral prismatic facies sometimes associated with each other. In the United States, the Prince of Wales deposit (Alaska) yielded 10 cm pseudo-octahedral tabular crystals, and Haddam (Connecticut) large decimetric crystals.
Epidote fans from Dashkesan, Azerbaijan
Pseudo-octahedral epidote from Raskoh Mounts, Pakistan
Epidote and prehnite from Laietto, Torino, Piedmont, Italy
40.05 ct epidote cabochon from Brazil

Epidote in France

In France, the classic localities are the alpine fissures of Isère and Haute-Savoie, especially those around Bourg d'Oisans (Le Cornillon, Le Combe de la Selle, etc...). The microcrystalline epidote (pistachite) is abundant in the micashists of the island of Groix (Morbihan), associated with glaucophane and almandine.

Twinning ans special crystallizations

There is a twin for the epidote on {100} however it is hardly observable, except on the crystals of Green Monster Mountain (Alaska, USA).

Fakes and treatments

No fake inventories for this mineral species.



Hardness : 6
Density : 3.38 to 3.49
Fracture : Irregular
Trace : White




TP : Transparent to opaque
RI : 1.715 to 1.797
Birefringence :  0.019 to 0.046
Optical character : Biaxial -
Pleochroism : Strong
Fluorescence : None


Solubility : Hydrofluoric acid

Magnetism : Paramagnetic
Radioactivity : None

ReCaptcha

This service is used to secure web forms of our website and required if you want to contact us. By accepting it you agree to Google's privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a service used on our website that tracks, reports traffic and measures how users interact with our website content in order for us to improve it and provide better services.

Facebook

Our website allows you to like or share its content on Facebook social network. By activating and using it you agree to Facebook's privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy/cookies/

YouTube

Integrated videos provided by YouTube are used on our website. By accepting to watch them you agree to Google's privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Twitter

Integrated tweets and share services of Twitter are used on our website. By accepting and using these you agree to Twitter's privacy policy: https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/twitter-cookies

PInterest

Our website allows you to share its content on PInterest social network. By activating and using it you agree to PInterest's privacy policy: https://policy.pinterest.com/en/privacy-policy/