Serpentine Mineral
The terminology “Serpentine” is a rock, made of the minerals serpentinite, and it is a clue that you are looking very clearly at rocks that have been beneath the earth. Serpentine is found when ultramafic rocks come closer to the surface of the earth and undertake to react with water. It is composed of so many serpentine group minerals. This rock is a group of minerals that are usually green in colour.
[Image will be uploaded soon]
Properties of Serpentine Mineral
The most self-evident physical properties of serpentine are its green colour, pattern as well as texture appearance, these remind notice of snake skin and that the mineral's name is “serpentine”. Besides, there are the following other properties:
Serpentine is a type of metamorphic rock. And the parent rock of this mineral is “Peridotite”.
The main chemical classification of this mineral: Silicate(SiO4).
The streak of the serpentine minerals is white in colour.
This rock has the ability to resist the transfer of heating. That makes the minerals a valuable insulated material and many insulators are made up of serpentine minerals.
Luster is greasy or waxy.
The term “Diaphaneity” of the minerals are translucent to opaque and rarely transparent, diaphaneity of the mineral means the ability of that mineral to transmit the light.
Cleavage of the serpentine mineral are very poor to perfect, cleavage means the way some minerals break along certain lines of weakness in their structure as well as shape, it described in terms of their quality, how easily the mineral breaks and their difficulty- how easy or how hard.
One of the most important tests of the minerals to identify how the hardness of the mineral is measured by the Mohs scale, is the qualitative ordinal scale, from 1 to 10, mainly to check the scratch resistance of minerals.
The hardness of the rock varies between 3 and 6.
The chemical composition of the serpentine is (Mg, Fe, Ni, Al, Zn, Mn)2-3 (Si, Al, Fe)2O5(OH)4.
Most of these mineral crystal systems are monoclinic.
The various uses of those minerals are sculpture, ornaments, gems, astrological gemstone, architectural stone and asbestos because this mineral contains chrysotile.
The presence of chrysolite in any minerals behaves like an insulator and also uses as an insulator material.
Varieties of Serpentine Subgroup
There is a various subgroup of serpentine, the most frequent species are all magnesium(Mg) dominant like chrysotile, lizardite and antigorite. Kaolinite Serpentine group is one of the subgroups of the serpentine mineral, with divalent cations usually trioctahedral coordinated sites.
The chemical properties of the serpentine subgroup are D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D = Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn. Apart from that so many other subgroups exist in a serpentine-like batiste, marmolite, metaxite, ni-serpentine, nickeliferous serpentine, pelhamine, picrolite, radiotine, retinalite, ricolite, serpentinas best and serpentine subgroup jade (mixture of the serpentine mineral group mainly chrysotile, lizardite serpentine, healerite serpentine and antigorite, it also contains minor impurities such as chlorite, magnetite, ilmenite and talc).
Life With Serpentine Stone
The serpentine mineral is very affected to our day to day life, it is a very essential thing in looking at the way of humanity.
It is also a very expensive stone as a view of the astrological stone.
It is found very rarely in a situation otherwise it isn't found.
The major sources of the serpentine mineral are in China, Afghanistan, New Zealand, USA, South Africa, and England.
The most common form of the serpentine is a green Cabochon gemstone. This is the very small amount of pure fine green serpentine that has very closeness to “jade”.
The name of gemstone from the serpentine minerals is “New Jade”.
FAQs on Serpentine
1. What is serpentine in geography?
In geography and geology, serpentine refers to a group of common rock-forming hydrous magnesium iron silicate minerals. These minerals are formed through a metamorphic process called serpentinization. Serpentine typically has a greenish, mottled, and scaly appearance, often resembling the skin of a snake, which is how it got its name. It is the primary component of the metamorphic rock known as serpentinite.
2. What are the key physical properties used to identify serpentine?
Serpentine can be identified by its distinct physical properties. Geologists and students look for the following characteristics:
Colour: Usually ranges from light to dark green, but can also be yellowish, brown, or black, often with a mottled or veined pattern.
Lustre: Has a greasy, waxy, or silky lustre.
Feel: Often feels soapy or slippery to the touch, a key identifying feature.
Hardness: It is a relatively soft mineral, with a hardness ranging from 2.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale.
Diaphaneity: It is typically translucent to opaque.
3. How is serpentine formed in nature?
Serpentine is formed through a geological process called serpentinization. This is a type of low-temperature metamorphism that occurs when water infiltrates ultramafic rocks (rocks rich in magnesium and iron), such as peridotite or dunite. These rocks are commonly found in the Earth's mantle. The water reacts with minerals like olivine and pyroxene, transforming them into serpentine group minerals. This process often occurs at tectonic plate boundaries on the seafloor.
4. What are the main uses and importance of serpentine?
Serpentine has several important industrial and ornamental applications. Its primary uses include:
Architectural Stone: Due to its attractive green colours and patterns, it is used as a decorative stone for facing, flooring, and interior walls.
Gemstone and Carving: Certain varieties are polished and used as gemstones or ornamental carvings, sometimes referred to as 'New Jade' or 'Noble Serpentine'.
Source of Asbestos: The fibrous variety, chrysotile, was historically the most common source of asbestos, valued for its heat resistance and insulating properties.
Source of Magnesium: Serpentine rocks are a significant source of magnesium and can be mined for this purpose.
5. What is the difference between serpentine and serpentinite?
The key difference lies in their classification. Serpentine is the name for a group of minerals. In contrast, serpentinite is the name of a metamorphic rock that is composed predominantly of one or more serpentine group minerals. Essentially, the serpentine minerals are the 'ingredients', and serpentinite is the 'finished rock' made from those ingredients.
6. Are serpentine minerals hazardous to health?
The health risk associated with serpentine depends on its form. The serpentine group includes three main polymorphs: chrysotile, antigorite, and lizardite. While the platy or massive forms (antigorite and lizardite) are generally considered safe, the fibrous form, chrysotile, is a type of asbestos. Inhaling chrysotile fibres is a well-documented health hazard and can lead to serious respiratory diseases, including asbestosis and mesothelioma. Therefore, any serpentine rock containing the fibrous chrysotile variety should be handled with caution.
7. Where is serpentine commonly found around the world?
Serpentine minerals and serpentinite rocks are found worldwide, particularly in areas associated with tectonic plate boundaries and ancient mountain belts. Significant deposits occur in:
The Coast Ranges of California, USA (where it is the state rock).
The Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States.
The Ural Mountains in Russia.
The Alps in Europe.
Oman and the United Arab Emirates, within the Semail Ophiolite.
