Epidote – Alicante, Spain

Epidote is a mineral belonging to the silicate group, known for its characteristic green shades, which range from light pistachio to dark green. Depending on its iron content, it can also be yellow-brown or reddish-brown in colour.

Epidote is a common mineral found in metamorphosed rocks such as schists and marbles, and also in some igneous rocks. It can be found in many places around the world, including Austria, Spain, Norway, the USA (California and Alaska), as well as in Brazil, Russia and Pakistan. In nature, it is often found together with other minerals such as quartz or albite, making for visually interesting collectible specimens.

On the Mohs scale it reaches a hardness of 6-7, making it hard enough for use in jewellery, although it is not as common as other gemstones. Still, its color and malleability make it a favorite among mineral collectors. Epidote has no significant industrial use, but its presence in rocks serves geologists as an indicator of metamorphic processes.