metamorphic
Serpentine
Serpentinite (Mg, Fe, Ni, Al, Zn, Mn)3(Si, Al, Fe)2O5(OH)4
Hardness: 3-6 Mohs. Color: Green, yellow, grayish-green. Luster: Waxy, greasy, or silky. Crystal Structure: Monoclinic or Orthorhombic. Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.9.
- Hardness
- 3-6 Mohs
- Color
- Green, yellow, grayish-green
- Luster
- Waxy, greasy, or silky
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-6 Mohs. Color: Green, yellow, grayish-green. Luster: Waxy, greasy, or silky. Crystal Structure: Monoclinic or Orthorhombic. Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.9.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the serpentinization (hydration and metamorphic transformation) of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle, typically at low temperatures and high pressures in subduction zones.
Uses & applications
Used as an ornamental stone in architecture, for sculpture (soapstone variety), as a source of magnesium, and historically as a source of asbestos in fibrous varieties.
Geological facts
Serpentine is the state rock of California. The name comes from 'serpentinus' meaning 'serpent rock' because of its mottled green appearance that resembles snakeskin.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its distinctive 'greasy' feel and green-mottled color. Commonly found in ophiolite complexes and along fault zones. Small, water-worn pebbles like these are often found in riverbeds near metamorphic belts.
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