metamorphic
Serpentinite
Serpentinite (composed primarily of Serpentine group minerals: (Mg, Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4)
Hardness: 2.5–6 on Mohs scale; Color: olive green, blackish-green; Luster: waxy, greasy, or silky; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: poor; Specific Gravity: 2.5–2.6.
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- olive green, blackish-green
- Luster
- waxy, greasy, or silky
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2.5–6 on Mohs scale; Color: olive green, blackish-green; Luster: waxy, greasy, or silky; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: poor; Specific Gravity: 2.5–2.6.
Formation & geological history
Formed through serpentinization, a low-temperature metamorphic process where ultramafic rocks from the Earth's mantle (like peridotite) are hydrated by water at tectonic boundaries.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative architectural stone, a source of magnesium, and historically as a source of asbestos. It is also the official state rock of California.
Geological facts
Serpentinite is a product of the interaction between seawater and the Earth's mantle. It often contains magnetite, making some specimens slightly magnetic.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its characteristic green color and 'snake-skin' waxy texture. Commonly found in ophiolite belts where oceanic crust has been thrust onto continental margins.
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