Serpentine

Balance • Calming • Inner peace • Harmony • Purifying • Detoxifying • Pain relieving

Energetic properties

Serpentine brings physical and mental balance and helps ward off negative energies and radiation. It has a calming effect on tension and nervousness and promotes inner peace. It is an excellent stone for creating harmony in conflicts and can support compromise. Spiritually, it may enhance psychic abilities and is highly suitable for supporting meditation. Physically, serpentine is detoxifying and cleansing, and it has a positive effect on the stomach, intestines, and kidneys.

Serpentine is suitable for children from around 6 years old.

Formation

Serpentine forms through a metamorphic process in which the original rock—usually a magnesium-rich rock such as peridotite—is subjected to high pressure and temperatures within the Earth’s crust. This process transforms the magnesium-rich rock into serpentine. The presence of water plays a crucial role, as it triggers the chemical reactions that form the serpentine mineral. The water can come from various sources, such as seawater, groundwater, or water released from other rocks during metamorphism.

Etymology

The name derives from the Latin word 'serpens', meaning 'snake'. The stone was named for its often smooth and shiny appearance, which resembles the skin of a snake. Serpentine also frequently occurs in green tones, similar to the colors of some snakes.

It is sometimes referred to as 'New Jade' or 'China Jade', but it is a variety of serpentine; not true jade, despite the name.

Care

It is best to avoid too much contact with water. Serpentine is a relatively soft stone and can be prone to scratches, wear, corrosion, especially when exposed to acidic or alkaline substances. It is best to clean the stone gently with a dry cloth and not to soak it in water or cleaning agents.

Cleansing and charging can also be done using sage, incense or moonlight.

Origin

Is commonly found in regions with metamorphic rock formations, such as mountain ranges. Known sources include Greece, Italy, the United States, Russia, China, Canada, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Availability

Serpentine is relatively common and can be found worldwide, so it is generally not considered rare. However, it can vary in quality and size, and some rarer forms—such as crystals with internal inclusions or exceptionally large specimens—can be more valuable.

Due to its relative softness, serpentine is easy to work with and can be carved or polished into various shapes and figures. These qualities make it a popular material for sculptures, jewelry, and other decorative objects.

Properties

Composition: (Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn)₃Si₂O₅₄
Hardness: 3-6
Density: 2.5

Associated with Serpentine