Epidote is one of the most outstanding display minerals. The finest and most desirable form of this mineral is in delicate elongated crystals that are extremely lustrous and often interconnected. This form is highly treasured by collectors and creates one of the finest mineral showpieces. The color of Epidote is almost invariably green, in all different shades and tones, with a pistachio color habit being very typical.

Epidote forms a group of related minerals, with the mineral Epidote being the most prominent member of the group. Two uncommon members of the Epidote group are Epidote-(Pb) (which is more popularly known as Hancockite), and Epidote-(Sr). Though often regarded as varieties of Epidote, these two forms are classified by the IMA as individual mineral species.

Epidote is also almost identical in composition to Clinozoisite but lacks significant iron in its structure. It forms a series with Clinozoisite, and in many cases the actual distinction between these two minerals cannot be made. In fact, some specimens from certain localities are labeled as Clinozoisite-Epidote since they are intermediary between these two minerals without an exact determination, or may even contain both these minerals in different parts of a single crystal.