Where is serpentine mined

KQED is a proud member of. Always free. Sign In. KQED Inform. Save Article Save Article. Brian Romans. Some fibrous forms are extremely soft and flexible and resemble wool. Serpentine also pseudomorph s after many minerals, where it form in the same crystal shape as the pseudomorphed mineral.

Translucent to opaque. Rarely transparent. Specific Gravity. Greasy , waxy , or silky. Usually not discernible because of crystal development. Chrysotile may exhibit basal cleavage.

Conchoidal , splintery. Fibrous Serpentine is flexible and elastic. Other ID Marks. In Group. Silicates ; Phyllosilicates. Striking Features. Greasy feel, soft compared to similar minerals, and may flexible and elastic. Serpentine is fairly common in many environments, and is an important rock forming mineral in many metamorphic environments.

Rock Type. Popularity Prevalence Demand Asbestos - Asbestos describes any mineral that is extremely fibrous and flexible. Bastite - Pseudomorph of Serpentine after Enstatite. Bowenite - Form of Serpentine that is massive shaped with densely packed fibers. Deweylite - Chrysotile Serpentine containing small amounts of Stevensite or other Talc minerals. Garnierite - Name describing a small group of green Serpentine minerals rich in nickel.

Marmolite - Describes Antigorite Serpentine composed of small, shiny micaceous plate s. Picrolite - Describes Antigorite Serpentine that occurs in a columnar habit. Retinalite - Describes Antigorite Serpentine with a waxy luster , and usually with a yellowish color. Serpentinite - Describes a rock composed almost fully of Serpentine minerals, but contains small amounts of pyroxene and amphibole minerals, as well as Olivine , Magnetite , Calcite , and Dolomite. Verde Antique - Verde Antique is dark green rock composed of Serpentine , and often containing Calcite veins running through it.

Williamsite - A translucent, green form of Serpentine which is sometimes polished as an ornamental stone. The finely fibrous variety of Chrysotile is the primary source for industrial asbestos. Because it is not affected by fire and is a poor heat conductor, it is used for fire retardant devices and heat protection. Its former use, which has been outlawed in most areas, was as an insulator, but has been banned because of its notorious nature of causing cancer and other long term illnesses.

Antigorite , as well as Serpentinite and Verd Antique , are sculpted into ornamental carvings. This is only a small example of the infinite diversity of serpentine gem materials. Lime Green Serpentine: Rare specimens of serpentine have a wonderful green color, clarity, and translucence. These specimens have the appearance of nice jade and are sometimes confused with it in retail products. Attractive serpentine can be cut into a wide variety of gemstones. It is most often cut into cabochons and beads.

They usually display a range of green, yellow, and black colors and often have magnetite, chromite, or other minerals as interesting inclusions. The lower left side of the green and black cabochon in the center of the photo on this page contains enough included magnetite that the cab can be moved with a small hand magnet. Gemstone-quality serpentine is easy to polish, and beautiful finishes are possible.

However, it usually polishes to a waxy luster rather than the brilliant glassy luster of much harder materials such as agate, jasper, and faceted stones. Rockhounds who polish their first piece of serpentine and know this have their expectations calibrated in advance. The waxy luster is a beautiful and common characteristic of the material. It does not reflect the skill of the operator.

Extra polishing time and effort will still produce a waxy luster. Serpentine has some durability concerns. It has a hardness that ranges from 3 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Three is far too soft for anything but the most gently-worn jewelry such as earrings, brooches, or pendants. A Mohs hardness of six is not hard enough for confident use in a ring or bracelet.

Beads can be made from the more durable serpentine. Some specimens of serpentine have a wonderful green color, clarity, and translucence.

They are easily mistaken for fine jade by inexperienced buyers. The experienced buyer knows that serpentine polishes to a soft waxy luster rather than a bright glassy luster.

Cabochons or beads with a waxy luster are not jade -- or they are jade with a poor polishing job. Some varieties of serpentine can be carved into beautiful stone sculptures. Fine-grained, translucent material with a uniform texture and without voids and fractures is preferred. Serpentine is relatively soft and carves easily. It also accepts a nice polish. Serpentine sculptures range in size from under one centimeter to several meters in height.

Bowls, vases, desk sets, clock bases, animals, fruit, flowers, legendary figures, deities, busts, and statues are all common objects made by artists working with serpentine. Serpentinite rock units have been considered as repositories for the disposal of waste carbon dioxide produced when fossil fuels are burned. Injecting carbon dioxide into subsurface rock units in the presence of water can produce magnesium carbonate and quartz in an exothermic reaction similar to the one shown below.

Numerous studies and small scale tests of geological sequestration of CO 2 have produced promising results, but the procedure has not been placed into commercial practice. Home » Minerals » Serpentine Serpentine A group of minerals used as architectural, ornamental, and gem materials.

A source of asbestos. Article by: Hobart M. Physical Properties of Serpentine Chemical Classification Silicate Color Usually various shades of green, but can be yellow, black, white, and other colors. Uses A source of asbestos, architectural stone, ornamental stone, gem material. Find Other Topics on Geology. Maps Volcanoes World Maps. Physical Properties of Serpentine.