metamorphic
Serpentine
Serpentinite (Mg, Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4
Hardness: 3-6 Mohs; Color: Dark green to black with pale green or yellowish mottling; Luster: Waxy to greasy; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Poor; Texture: Smooth or fibrous.
- Hardness
- 3-6 Mohs
- Color
- Dark green to black with pale green or yellowish mottling
- Luster
- Waxy to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-6 Mohs; Color: Dark green to black with pale green or yellowish mottling; Luster: Waxy to greasy; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Poor; Texture: Smooth or fibrous.
Formation & geological history
Formed through serpentinization, a low-temperature metamorphic process where ultramafic rocks (peridotite) from the Earth's mantle are hydrated by seawater or hydrothermal fluids, typically at tectonic plate boundaries.
Uses & applications
Used as an ornamental stone for carvings and architecture, a source of magnesium, and historically as a source of asbestos (in fibrous varieties like chrysotile).
Geological facts
Serpentine is the state rock of California and gets its name from its resemblance to the skin of a serpent. It often contains magnetite, which can make some specimens slightly magnetic.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its waxy feel, green color, and relative softness compared to other dark rocks. Found in ophiolite sequences where oceanic crust has been uplifted onto continents.
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