metamorphic
Serpentine (Serpentinite)
Serpentine group ((Mg,Fe,Ni,Al,Zn,Mn)3(Si,Fe)2O5(OH)4)
Hardness: 3 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Dark green to yellowish-green with dark mottled patterns. Luster: Waxy, greasy, or silky. Texture: Fine-grained, soft to the touch, often smooth or polished-looking.
- Hardness
- 3 to 6 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- Dark green to yellowish-green with dark mottled patterns
- Luster
- Waxy, greasy, or silky
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Dark green to yellowish-green with dark mottled patterns. Luster: Waxy, greasy, or silky. Texture: Fine-grained, soft to the touch, often smooth or polished-looking.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the low-grade metamorphism (serpentinization) of ultramafic igneous rocks like peridotite and dunite in the presence of water at subduction zones and oceanic crust settings.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative stone, carvings, lapidary rough, minor source of asbestos (chrysotile variant), and industrial source of magnesium.
Geological facts
Serpentine gets its name from its similarity to the greenish, mottled texture of a snake's skin. Serpentinite is the official state rock of California.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive deep green color, greasy or waxy luster, and soft feeling. Commonly found in ophiolites, tectonic suture zones, and subduction complexes worldwide.
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