Epidote is a green silicate mineral that forms in elongated, bladed crystals with a distinctive deep pistachio-to-olive green color. This specimen pairs dark green epidote blades with clear quartz crystal points, the two minerals grown together in the fan-like sprays that epidote is known for. The contrast between the glossy green blades and the translucent quartz makes it a genuine display piece. Each specimen is natural and unworked apart from light cleaning, so the crystal arrangement and the green-to-clear balance differ from piece to piece.
Epidote Features
- Natural epidote crystals with clear quartz points
- Deep pistachio to olive green bladed crystals
- Fan-like radiating crystal sprays
- Raw unworked specimen with natural crystal faces
- Roughly 2 to 3 inches, about 5 oz per piece
- Sold individually as one hand-picked specimen
Epidote Benefits
Epidote's green is unusual, darker and more metallic than most green minerals, with a glassy sheen that catches light along the crystal blades. Set against clear quartz, the combination reads as a natural study in contrast, which is why epidote-quartz specimens are popular display pieces. The bladed, radiating structure gives it real texture up close, and it makes an interesting specimen for anyone building a mineral collection or looking for a green stone that isn't the usual aventurine or malachite.
Epidote Materials
Epidote is a calcium aluminum iron silicate, and the iron content is what produces its characteristic green color. It forms in metamorphic rock and in mineral veins, often alongside quartz as seen here. Epidote rates 6 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it reasonably durable, while the quartz points sit at 7. Major sources include Pakistan, Mali, Mozambique, and the United States.
Epidote Usage Tips
- Clean with warm water and a soft cloth, then dry thoroughly
- Reasonably durable at 6 to 7 Mohs, but handle to protect the fine crystal tips
- Display where light catches the green blades and the quartz points
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight to keep the color stable
- Store apart from softer stones, and handle over a soft surface to protect crystal edges
Disclaimer
Size, shape, and color may vary from the photos. Each Epidote specimen is natural, so no two pieces are identical.