What is Serpentinite?

Serpentinite forms the low-temperature metamorphism of intrusive or extrusive mafic and ultramafic igneous. It is composed almost entirely of serpen tine minerals, such as antigorite and chrysotile. Small amounts of olivine are often present. Other ferromagnesian minerals such as garnet, pyroxene, hornblende, and mica are also commonly found, as are chromite or chrome spinels. Serpentinite is dark in color, with areas of black, green, or red. Serpentinite is now classified as a metamorphic rock.

TEXTURE This is a compact, often banded rock commonly veined by fibrous serpentine.

ORIGIN Occurs as dykes, stocks, and lenses. Serpentinite is formed by the serpentinization of other rocks, principally peridotite. It commonly occurs in folded metamorphic rocks, probably from altered olivine-rich intrusions.

Group: METAMORPHIC

Origin: Intrusive

Grain size: Coarse to medium

Crystal shape: Anhedral, Euhedral

Classification: Ultramafic

Occurrence: Orogenic belts

Color: Dark

Breadcrust volcanic bomb