Serpentine Crystals from Peru
These highly polished serpentine crystals have an incredibly smooth texture and exhibit a dull lustre. This means they absorb light instead of reflecting it.
Serpentine does not occur as individual crystals but instead crystallises in masses. Minerals with this crystal habit form one large mass of tightly intergrown crystals.
Many online references state 'New Jade' is an alternative name for serpentine, but this is misleading because jade and serpentine are two different minerals.
The trade name New Jade may have come about because some less valuable varieties of serpentine are dyed to imitate jade. That said, some finer varieties of serpentine can look very similar to jade but it's considerably cheaper.
The name 'Serpentine' is believed to have come about because the mineral's colour, markings and rough, scaly texture were said to have resembled a serpent. The name comes from the Latin 'serpentinus' meaning 'serpent rock', or 'serpens' meaning 'snake.'
Serpentine is not one mineral but a group of many. The chemical composition of these minerals can vary greatly. Stones occur in white, grey, yellow, green and greenish blue. The one characteristic that all varieties have in common is they come from serpentinite rocks.
The Romans used serpentine because it was relatively soft and could be carved with fine detail. A Roman intaglio featuring a lion-headed God in Egyptian dress, dated to the 2nd or 3rd century AD, is on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Our serpentine crystals are large-sized tumbled stones. Size can vary from piece to piece.
Save Up to 30% on Larger Purchases
