metamorphic
Serpentine (Serpentinite)
Serpentinite / Serpentine Group (Mg,Fe,Ni,Al,Zn,Mn)2-3(Si,Al,Fe)2O5(OH)4
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 2.5–5.5 on the Mohs scale; Color: Mottled shades of light to dark green, olive-green, yellowish-green with black, grey, or white veins; Luster: Greasy, waxy, to vitreous when polished; Specific Gravity: ~2.5–2.6; Monoclinic to orthorhombic crystalline aggregates.
- Hardness
- 2
- Luster
- Greasy, waxy, to vitreous when polished
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2.5–5.5 on the Mohs scale; Color: Mottled shades of light to dark green, olive-green, yellowish-green with black, grey, or white veins; Luster: Greasy, waxy, to vitreous when polished; Specific Gravity: ~2.5–2.6; Monoclinic to orthorhombic crystalline aggregates.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal alteration and low-temperature metamorphism (serpentinization) of ultramafic igneous rocks like peridotite and pyroxenite rich in olivine, typical of oceanic mantle sections (ophiolites).
Uses & applications
Commonly carved into ornamental objects like eggs, spheres, beads, and figurines; used as an architectural decorative stone, dimension stone, and historically as a jade substitute (often commercially mislabeled as 'New Jade').
Geological facts
Named for its resemblance to the mottled green skin of a serpent. Serpentine is not a single mineral but a subgroup comprising antigorite, lizardite, and chrysotile (which occurs in fibrous form as a type of asbestos).
Field identification & locations
Identifiable in the field by its distinctive greasy feel, softness compared to true nephrite or jadeite, and mottled olive-green hues. Major sources include China, Italy, Greece, Russia, India, and the United States (California, Pennsylvania).
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