metamorphic
Serpentine Pebble
Serpentine ((Mg,Fe,Ni,Al,Zn,Mn)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4)
Hardness: 3-6 Mohs scale; Color: Greenish-grey, pale olive green, to dark greenish-black with light epidote/clinozoisite veins; Luster: Waxy to greasy or dull; Specific Gravity: 2.5-2.6; Texture: Fine-grained, stream-rounded pebble
- Hardness
- 3-6 Mohs scale
- Luster
- Waxy to greasy or dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-6 Mohs scale; Color: Greenish-grey, pale olive green, to dark greenish-black with light epidote/clinozoisite veins; Luster: Waxy to greasy or dull; Specific Gravity: 2.5-2.6; Texture: Fine-grained, stream-rounded pebble
Formation & geological history
Formed through serpentinization, a low-temperature metamorphic process involving hydrothermal alteration of ultramafic igneous rocks (such as peridotite or dunite) rich in olivine and pyroxene, often found in subduction zones and ophiolite complexes.
Uses & applications
Mainly collected by rockhounds as river/beach pebbles; larger deposits are used for decorative carvings, lapidary arts, and ornamental stones.
Geological facts
Serpentine is the official state rock of California. Its name comes from its resemblance to the skin of a serpent due to its mottled green texture and waxy feel.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its distinct waxy to greasy luster, variable shades of green, softness (scratched by steel), and smooth, rounded water-worn texture near rivers or ocean shores.
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