Serpentine: meaning, symbolic properties, care

What is serpentine?

Serpentine is not a single mineral but a group of hydrated magnesium silicates. The three main ones are antigorite, lizardite (named after the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall) and chrysotile. They form when dark rocks rich in magnesium, coming from deep in the Earth's crust or mantle, are transformed by water: this process is called serpentinisation.

The name comes from the Latin serpentinus: the rock, green, glossy and sometimes speckled, recalls a reptile's skin. An apple-green variety of antigorite, bowenite, is the most used for carving and jewellery. It is sometimes sold as "Korean jade", "Soochow jade" or "new jade", misleading names: it is not jade.

A history of use

Serpentine rocks have been carved since antiquity for vases, slabs, statuettes and architectural elements. The green marble known as "verde antico" is in fact a serpentine breccia; it was used to decorate Roman buildings and later churches. In southern Africa, Shona sculptors use serpentines of several colours for their contemporary works.

Chrysotile, for its part, was mined as asbestos for its fibres that resist heat, until its danger was recognised. Asbestos has been banned in France since 1997.

Traditional symbolism

The image of the serpent has two faces in many cultures: danger, but also renewal, since the animal sheds its skin. Contemporary authors link serpentine to these themes of transformation, calm and quiet wisdom. Old European traditions also gave it the role of a talisman against snakebites; this is a historical belief, without established foundation.

These are cultural associations, with no medical or predictive value.

Traditional correspondences

How to use it

• As a tumbled stone: pleasant to handle, especially for hands that fidget.
• As jewellery: in beads, as a cabochon or as a pendant, with the care that soft stones need in jewellery.
• Placed in a calm room, on a shelf or near a plant.
• In meditation: held in the palm for a few breaths.

No stone heals: in case of a health concern, consult a professional.

Care, precautions and asbestos

Softer than quartz, serpentine scratches easily, and its softest parts may flake.

• Clean with lukewarm water and mild soap, then dry. Avoid acids and household cleaners.
• No ultrasonic cleaner.
• Avoid rubbing against harder stones, and store it separately.
• Symbolic purification: gentle smoke, moonlight, selenite (see cleansing and recharging your stones).

Safety. Some serpentines contain chrysotile, a form of asbestos. An intact polished stone releases nothing: the risk comes from dust when it is sawn, sanded or broken. Do not cut it without suitable protection, do not crush it and never grind it into powder. Do not make an elixir from this stone (see toxic stones).

Recognising genuine serpentine

Serpentine is often sold under other flattering names ("jade", "Chinese jade"). Real jade is clearly harder and heavier in the hand; serpentine, lighter and softer, often has a soapy feel.

• Dyes: pale pieces may be dyed a deeper green.
• Waxing: polishing with wax gives a bright but temporary shine.
• Confusions: with jade, aventurine, prehnite or variscite. Only a gemmological laboratory can settle the question with certainty.

A stone sold as "jade" at a low price is often serpentine or a similar stone. This is not fraud if the trade name is stated, but it is worth asking the seller.

An observation exercise

Take a tumbled serpentine stone and place it under a lamp. Look for the three features that set it apart from a simple green pebble: a slightly greasy lustre, veins that are lighter or darker, and a cool, smooth feel. Write down what you see in a notebook, without trying to interpret it. This exercise of a few minutes develops attention to detail, with any stone.

If you are interested in geology, know that serpentine-rich rocks (serpentinites) also outcrop in France, notably in the Alps, in Corsica and in the Massif Central. Do not collect anything in a nature reserve or a protected site.

How to choose one

Look for an even colour or clear veins with no cracks or crumbly areas. Tumbled stones and cabochons are the most affordable. It pairs well with green aventurine, prehnite or genuine jade, for comparing greens.

Frequently asked questions

Also read

The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Guide to stones.