All About Serpentine – Uses, Properties, Color, and Worth

What is Serpentine?

Serpentine is a mass of related minerals that commonly consist of chrysotile and antigorite.  Serpentine is formed, as a process called serpentinization, where heat and water mixing with low silica igneous rocks such as peridotite and dunite through oxidation and hydrolization… 

This formation typically occurs at or near the sea floor or in mountain ranges where large amounts of water are pulled into the rock destroying it through increasing volume and density reduction.  This of course can only be accomplished through the inclusion of heat from such sources as a non-volcanic hydrothermal vents.

Serpentine, in its solid form, will typically have a texture that is smooth and slippery like that of a snake, hence the first part of the name serpent.  High levels of magnesium and water are attributed to this feature of serpentine as it went through its metamorphic transformation.

Serpentine is the official state rock of California (as of 2019), though many have questioned this designation due to the asbestos content from the chrysotile variety of serpentine.

 

Is Serpentine dangerous?  

Serpentine is dangerous if it is in the fibrous chrysotile form.  This dangerous type of asbestos can have some ill effects if brought near the face as particles can enter through the mouth and lungs.  The antigorite form of serpentine is not considered dangerous as it is confined in solid form.

What is the color of Serpentine?

Serpentine color will commonly be known for its variety of greens.  However, serpentine can be found in colors such as white, yellow, black, brown, gray, and purple.  Some of the best specimens of serpentine have a mixed color with greens and yellows.

What is Serpentine used for?

Serpentine is used for its source of asbestos in the fibrous chrysotile form and used as jewelry in its solid antigorite form.  Many uses of the mineral chrysotile in serpentine were applied in past history, and still in many cases today, such as walls, tiles, shingles, paints and many other construction materials…

However, due to the findings about asbestos being connected to things such as lung cancer, removal and discontinuation of those asbestos materials were hard pressed by the people and governments in many countries.   

The solid form of serpentine is not as scary, as it can be cut and polished into cabochons, figurines, book ends, jewelry, and more.  Due to its availability in various greens and sometimes mixtures of other colors, it can often be confused with jade.

Some people today believe that serpentine has healing powers while being adorned and can aid in pain management of certain ailments.  Some also believe while wearing the stone you can better find inner peace during mediation.

What is Serpentine worth?

Serpentine worth will run you well below $1 per carat due to its abundant availability.  The worth of serpentine comes as more of an industrious use for asbestos.  Its value in solid form when cut into cabochons and for jewelry will not carry large prices either…

Some small gemstones of serpentine cut out into round shapes can fetch a price of 8 to 10 USD which is very affordable as a specimen.  Some jewelry, such as a bracelet, can run you up to around 70 USD.