Serpentin
Also known as serpentine subgroup, serpentine, serpophite
rock-forming hydrous magnesium iron phyllosilicate
Key facts
- Category
- Phyllosilicate minerals
- Group
- Kaolinite - Serpentine group
- Formula
- X 3 Si 2 O 5 (OH) 4 , with X = Mg , Fe , Ni , Mn , Zn
- Ima symbol
- Srp
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Color
- Green, yellowish-green, blueish-gray ( antigorite ), Green, brown, light yellow to white ( lizardite ), Greyish green to white ( chrysotile )
- Cleavage
- Almost perfect
- Tenacity
- Brittle
- Mohs scale hardness
- 2.5–6 (original) 3.5–4.0 ( antigorite ), 2.5 ( lizardite ), 2.5–3.0 ( chrysotile )
- Luster
- Vitreous, silky, greasy, waxy
- Streak
- White, greenish-white
- Specific gravity