STICHTITE AND SERPENTINE
(Also known as Atlantisite™ - named by Gerald Pauley)
Stichtite Hill, Tasmania

Serpentine is an earthing stone that aids meditation and spiritual exploration. It clears the chakras and stimulates the crown chakra opening psychic abilities and spiritual understanding. It opens new pathways for the Kundalini energy to rise and lessens the discomfort which is sometimes associated with this movement. Placed on the crown, it provides a drawing force conducive to initiating the movement. 

Stichtite and Serpentine Mine - Tasmania, Australia

Serpentine is an adjective that means serpent-like -- i.e., snake-like -- as well as a mineral name. It seems ironic to some people -- but quite appropriate to others -- that it has long been thought that people who carry anything made from the mineral Serpentine have protection from snake bites. Indeed, some people believe this association led to giving the mineral its name; others, however, think it more likely that the mineral was so-named (apparently first recorded by Agricola, 1546) because the colours and patterns of some of the fairly common dark green mottled Serpentinites resemble the skins of some snakes. Whichever, the following lines from a poem attributed to Orpheus and said to have been written in the 4th century A.D., are interesting; as given, they are from King (1865, p.384).

 "No more the trailing serpent's tooth to fear. 
Let him who by the dragon's fang hath bled, 
On the dire wound Serpentine powdered spread, 
And in the stone his sure reliance place, 
For wounds inflicted by the reptile race."



Serpentines have their origins in metamorphic alterations of peridotite, amphibolite and pyroxene. Serpentines may also pseudomorphously replace other magnesium silicates. Alterations may be incomplete, causing physical properties of Serpentines to vary widely.

 

Most Serpentines are opaque to translucent, light (specific gravity between 2.2–2.9), soft (hardness 2.5–4), infusible and susceptible to acids. All are microcrystalline and massive in habit, never being found as single crystals. Lustre may be vitreous, greasy or silky. Colours range from white to grey, yellow to green, and brown to black, and are often splotchy or veined. Many are intergrown with other minerals, such as calcite and dolomite. Occurrence is worldwide: Canada (Quebec), USA (California), Afghanistan, Cornwall, China, France, Norway and Italy are notable localities.

Massage Wands - AU$45.00 each

Tumbled Stone (photo at top of page) - AU$10.00

THE MINERAL SERPENTINE
Chemistry: (Mg,Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4, Magnesium Iron Silicate Hydroxide 
Class: Silicates 
Subclass: phyllosilicates 
Group: Kalolinite-Serpentine 
Uses: many industrial applications, including brake linings and fireproof fabrics and as an ornamental stone. 
Specimens 
Serpentine is a major rock forming mineral and is found as a constituent in many metamorphic and weather igneous rocks. It often colours many of these rocks to a green colour and most rocks that have a green colour probably have Serpentine in some amount. 
Serpentine is actually a general name applied to several members of a polymorphic group. These minerals have essentially the same chemistry but different structures. The following is a list of these minerals, their formulas and symmetry class: 

Antigorite; (Mg,Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4; monoclinic. 
Clinochrysotile; Mg3Si2O5(OH)4; monoclinic. 
Lizardite; Mg3Si2O5(OH)4; trigonal and hexagonal. 
Orthochrysotile; Mg3Si2O5(OH)4; orthorhombic. 
Parachrysotile; (Mg,Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4; orthorhombic. 
Their differences are minor and almost indistinguishable in hand samples. However, the chrysotile minerals are more likely to form Serpentine asbestos, while Antigorite and Lizardite form cryptocrystalline masses sometimes with a lamellar or micaceous character. Asbestos had been used for years as a fire retarding cloth and in brake linings. Its links to cancer however has led to the development of alternative materials for these purposes. 
Serpentine's structure is composed of layers of silicate tetrahedrons linked into sheets. Between the silicate layers are layers of Mg(OH)2. These Mg(OH)2 layers are found in the mineral Brucite and are called Brucite layers. How the Brucite layers stack with the silicate layers is the main reason for the multiple polymorphs. The stacking is not perfect and has the effect of bending the layers. In most Serpentines, the silicate layers and Brucite layers are more mixed and produced convoluted sheets. In the asbestos varieties the Brucite layers and silicate layers bend into tubes that produce the fibres. 

Serpentine can be an attractive green stone that takes a nice polish and is suitable for carving. It has been used as a substitute for jade and is sometimes difficult to distinguish from jade, a testament to the beauty of finer Serpentine material.

Non-fibrous Serpentine is not a cancer concern. Asbestos Serpentines should be kept in closed clear containers, but makes an attractive specimen. Sometimes with a golden colour as the name chrysotile in Greek means golden fibres.

 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Colour is olive green, yellow or golden, brown, or black. 
Lustre is greasy, waxy or silky. 
Transparency crystals are translucent and masses are opaque. 
Crystal System is variable, see above. 
Crystal Habits: never in large individual crystals, usually compact masses or fibrous. Veins of Serpentine can be found inside massive Serpentine or other rocks. 
Cleavage the varieties of chrysotile have none, in Lizardite and Antigorite it is good in one direction. 
Fracture is conchoidal in Antigorite and Lizardite and splintery in the chrysotile. 
Hardness is 3 - 4.5 
Specific Gravity is 2.2 - 2.6 
Streak white 
Associated Minerals include chromite, olivine, garnets, calcite, biotite and talc. 
Other Characteristics: Serpentine in the rough has a silky feel to the touch and fibres are very flexible. 
Notable Occurrences Val Antigorio, Italy; Russia; Rhodesia Switzerland; North Carolina, California, Rhode Island and Arizona, USA and Quebec, Canada. 
Best Field Indicators softness, colour, silky feel and lustre, asbestos if present and its flexibility.