What is serpentine jade?

Serpentine Jade: More Than Just “Fake Jade”

Okay, let’s talk about serpentine jade. You’ve probably seen it – that smooth, often greenish stone sometimes passed off as “new jade.” But here’s the thing: it’s not really jade. Serpentine is its own mineral, with its own story to tell. It’s kind of like that one friend who always gets mistaken for someone else, but once you get to know them, you realize they’re pretty interesting in their own right. So, let’s dive in and unmask this misunderstood stone.

So, What Exactly Is Serpentine?

Serpentine isn’t just one thing; it’s more like a family of minerals. Think of it as a group of cousins, all related but with slightly different personalities. The name “serpentine” comes from the Latin word for “snake,” and you can see why – its colors and patterns can be seriously snake-like! We’re talking antigorite, chrysotile, lizardite – these are the main players in the serpentine world.

These minerals are born from some serious geological drama. They form when magnesium- and iron-rich rocks get all hot and bothered by water and carbon dioxide deep underground. It’s like a slow-motion volcanic love affair! This process, called serpentinization (try saying that five times fast!), is what gives us these cool stones.

The chemical formula is a mouthful – something like (Mg,Fe,Ni,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4. But don’t worry about memorizing that! Just know that it’s a mix of magnesium, iron, and other elements that give serpentine its unique character. And when you see “serpentine jade,” it’s usually a mix of these serpentine minerals, mainly antigorite, chrysotile, and lizardite. It’s technically a rock (serpentinite), not a single mineral.

Serpentine vs. Real Jade: What’s the Diff?

Now, let’s clear up the confusion with “real” jade. There are actually two kinds of true jade: jadeite and nephrite. Jadeite is a sodium aluminum silicate (NaAlSi2O6), and nephrite is a calcium magnesium iron silicate hydroxide (Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2). Both are tough cookies, which is why they’re used in jewelry and carvings.

So, how can you tell the difference? It boils down to a few key things: what they’re made of, how hard they are, and how dense they are. Serpentine is softer than both jadeite and nephrite. Think of it this way: if you tried to scratch jadeite with a steel knife, it would be difficult to make a mark. Serpentine, on the other hand, would scratch more easily. Also, serpentine feels lighter than jade when you hold it.

To make it easier, here’s a quick cheat sheet:

FeatureSerpentineJadeiteNephriteCompositionHydrated magnesium silicateSodium aluminum silicateCalcium magnesium iron silicate hydroxideHardness (Mohs)2.5 – 5.56.5 – 76 – 6.5Specific Gravity2.2 – 2.93.3 – 3.52.9 – 3.1LusterWaxy, greasy, silkyVitreous (glassy)Vitreous to oilyTransparencyOpaque to translucent, sometimes transparentSemi-transparent to translucentOpaque to translucent