Serpentine Stone
A green, dense and polishable mineral group often marketed and used as green marble.
What is Serpentine?
Serpentine is not a single mineral but a group of magnesium silicate minerals formed when ultramafic rocks are altered by hydration and metamorphism. Serpentine stone is typically green — from pale green to deep emerald — often with waxy or silky luster and veining or mottled patterns. In the dimensional stone trade, dense serpentine that takes a high polish is commonly sold and labeled as “green marble”, though geologically it is not a true limestone-derived marble.
Properties
Decorative serpentine used as dimension stone is generally dense, takes a good polish, and is harder and less acid-sensitive than true carbonate marble in many varieties. Because the serpentine group covers a range of compositions and densities, performance varies by quarry and block, so it is best treated as a decorative material and specified accordingly.
Applications
Serpentine/green marble is used for interior floor and wall tiles, slabs for countertops and vanities (where the specific variety is suitable), decorative feature walls and columns, ornamental carvings, and ornamental objects. Its distinctive green color makes it a decorative statement stone rather than a neutral workhorse.