Group: Silicates – phyllosilicates
Chemical composition: (Mg,Fe,Ni)3Si2O5(OH)4
Colors: Green, greenish-blue, white, yellow, gray
Hardness: 3.5 to 5.5
Formation: Monoclinic crystal: Massive or pseudomorphous form
Principal Sources: Worldwide
Special Notes: Serpentine has 4 major subgroups; fibrous, antigorite, lizardite, and amesite. Minoan, Egyptian and early Greek civilizations used serpentine for carvings and vessels. Fibrous serpentine is used as asbestos.