mineral

Tumbled green stone, likely serpentine

Serpentine-group minerals, commonly antigorite or lizardite; approximate formula Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Opaque pale green with mottled darker veining and waxy-to-dull luster; typically Mohs hardness 2.5–4, monoclinic or locally fibrous crystal structure, with poor cleavage and specific gravity around 2.5–2.6. The rounded surface indicates tumbling or polishing.

Identified September 10, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when ultramafic mantle rocks, especially peridotite, undergo hydration and alteration during seafloor metamorphism or tectonic processes; ages range from Precambrian to modern alteration zones.

Uses & applications

Used as ornamental stone, beads, carvings, cabochons, and decorative tiles; historically used as a low-cost jade substitute. Fibrous varieties require caution because some serpentinite can contain asbestos minerals.

Geological facts

Serpentine is a mineral group rather than one single mineral, and its green color comes mainly from iron and magnesium-related crystal chemistry.

Field identification & locations

Common in serpentinite belts and former oceanic mantle rocks, including California, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, and the Ural Mountains. Confirm with hardness, waxy texture, low density, and association with dark ultramafic rock; visual identification alone is not definitive.