metamorphic
Tumbled serpentine (likely bowenite or antigorite)
Serpentine-group minerals, commonly antigorite: Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectSmall polished/tumbled stone with pale green to cream color and fibrous, streaky white pattern; waxy to subdued luster. Serpentine has Mohs hardness 2.5–4, monoclinic/triclinic crystal structures, poor cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.5–2.6.
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Physical properties
Small polished/tumbled stone with pale green to cream color and fibrous, streaky white pattern; waxy to subdued luster. Serpentine has Mohs hardness 2.5–4, monoclinic/triclinic crystal structures, poor cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.5–2.6.
Formation & geological history
Forms when ultramafic mantle rocks such as peridotite undergo low-temperature hydrothermal alteration (serpentinization), commonly during ocean-floor or mountain-building processes. Precise age cannot be determined from the photograph.
Uses & applications
Used as ornamental stone, carvings, cabochons, and decorative tumbled specimens; massive serpentine is also used architecturally, though less commonly today because some varieties may contain asbestos-form minerals.
Geological facts
The pale streaking is typical of intergrown serpentine minerals and relic textures from the original ultramafic rock. Bowenite, a harder, translucent variety, is often sold as “serpentine jade.”
Field identification & locations
Identify by its green coloration, waxy feel, relatively low hardness, light weight, and resistance to weak acid; it should scratch with a steel knife more readily than quartz. Common sources include California, Vermont, New Zealand, Italy, and Canada.
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