mineral
Tumbled yellow-green stone, possibly serpentine
Likely serpentine-group mineral (Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄); exact identification requires testing
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectSmooth, opaque to slightly translucent, pale olive-beige with a waxy luster and curved surface markings. Serpentine typically has Mohs hardness 2.5–5 and a fine-grained, often fibrous or platy structure; the pictured stone cannot be identified confidently from appearance alone.
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Physical properties
Smooth, opaque to slightly translucent, pale olive-beige with a waxy luster and curved surface markings. Serpentine typically has Mohs hardness 2.5–5 and a fine-grained, often fibrous or platy structure; the pictured stone cannot be identified confidently from appearance alone.
Formation & geological history
Serpentine forms when magnesium-rich ultramafic rocks are altered by water during metamorphism. Such rocks occur in ancient and modern tectonic belts.
Uses & applications
Tumbled serpentine is used for ornamental objects, beads, and inexpensive jewelry; serpentine-rich rock is also used decoratively and, historically, as a source of asbestos minerals.
Geological facts
The rounded shape and sheen indicate that this specimen has been polished or tumbled, not that it is naturally rounded.
Field identification & locations
Its pale color and smooth, waxy appearance fit serpentine, but similar-looking stones include calcite and other minerals. Hardness, streak, and acid tests—or laboratory analysis—would help distinguish them; serpentine occurs in ultramafic terrains worldwide.
