Judging quality
Look for waxy lustre and rich mottled green. Serpentine is frequently sold as 'new jade'; it is softer and lighter than true jade.
Silicate
Serpentine
A group of magnesium silicates named for their scaled, snake-like patterning. Californian serpentine is the state rock and forms the backbone of the Coast Ranges.
Care
Soft and easily scratched. Wipe with a damp cloth. Fibrous varieties should not be sanded or cut dry.
History & lore
Serpentinite marks the seam where oceanic crust was scraped onto the continent — the geological signature of the Bay Area's own hills.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Serpentine
- What is Serpentine?
- A group of magnesium silicates named for their scaled, snake-like patterning. Californian serpentine is the state rock and forms the backbone of the Coast Ranges.
- How hard is Serpentine and what is it made of?
- Serpentine is a Silicate-family mineral with the composition Mg3Si2O5(OH)4. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system and rates 3-5 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in green, yellow-green.
- Where does Serpentine come from?
- Notable localities for Serpentine include USA (California), Afghanistan, Italy, China.
- How do you tell good Serpentine from filler?
- Look for waxy lustre and rich mottled green. Serpentine is frequently sold as 'new jade'; it is softer and lighter than true jade.
- How do you care for Serpentine?
- Soft and easily scratched. Wipe with a damp cloth. Fibrous varieties should not be sanded or cut dry.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.