Serpentinite is a deep metamorphic rock consisting mainly of serpentine minerals. The main minerals are serpentine, chrysotile, and antigorite, and the secondary minerals are magnetite, chromite, ilmenite and magnesium-iron carbonate minerals. It is usually light or dark green. Serpentinite is dense and always has a flaky texture with a snakeskin-like pattern. It mainly forms by the hydrothermal metasomatism of ultramafic rocks, which causes serpentinization of the olivine and pyroxene. The serpentinized rocks always form with metallic minerals, including chromium, iron and nickel, and other non-metallic minerals, such as magnesite, talc and asbestos. Serpentine jade transformed from serpentinite is a popular ornamental stone.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this entry
Cite this entry
(2020). Serpentinite. In: Chen, A., Ng, Y., Zhang, E., Tian, M. (eds) Dictionary of Geotourism. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2538-0_2192
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2538-0_2192
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-2537-3
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-2538-0
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences