mineral

Unidentified polished green mineral specimen

Possibly aventurine quartz or serpentine; image insufficient for definitive identification

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Small dark-green, roughly cuboidal polished fragment with a vitreous-to-waxy luster; hardness and crystal structure cannot be reliably determined visually. Aventurine quartz is Mohs 7, while serpentine is typically Mohs 2.5–5.5.

Identified September 4, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

If aventurine, it formed when quartz crystallized with green fuchsite mica; if serpentine, it formed through hydrothermal alteration of magnesium-rich ultramafic rock. Geological ages vary widely by locality.

Uses & applications

Aventurine is used for carvings, beads, ornaments, and minor gemstones; serpentine is used decoratively and occasionally as a low-grade ornamental stone.

Geological facts

The vivid green color may result from mica, chlorite, or serpentine minerals. A closer image, translucency check, streak test, and hardness test would be needed for confident identification.

Field identification & locations

Common sources include India, Brazil, Russia, and the United States, depending on mineral type. Check for sparkly mica inclusions (aventurine), waxy texture and softness (serpentine), and avoid destructive testing on valuable pieces.