mineral

Likely green aventurine or serpentine fragment

Quartzite with fuchsite inclusions (aventurine), or serpentine-group mineral; exact identification requires testing

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Small irregular olive-green, earthy-to-dull specimen with granular texture and no obvious crystal faces. Aventurine is Mohs 6.5–7 with vitreous luster; serpentine is softer, Mohs 2.5–4, often waxy and opaque.

Identified August 28, 2026More mineral →

Explore Likely green aventurine or serpentine fragment in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Green aventurine forms when quartz-rich rock recrystallizes with chromium-bearing fuchsite mica; serpentine forms by hydration of ultramafic rocks. Both are commonly Paleozoic to younger metamorphic materials.

Uses & applications

Aventurine is used for carvings, beads, cabochons, and ornamental stone; serpentine is used for carvings and decorative objects. This tiny rough fragment has little commercial value.

Geological facts

The image alone cannot reliably distinguish these visually similar green materials. A white streak, hardness test, and magnification for glittery mica inclusions would help.

Field identification & locations

Common sources include India, Brazil, Russia, and Zimbabwe for aventurine, and California, Italy, Canada, and New Zealand for serpentine. Scratch with a steel blade: aventurine generally resists, while serpentine scratches more easily.