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Serpentine Group

Big Photo

Ash Creek, Ricolite District, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
© 2006 Peter Cristofono

Show Serpentine Group Photos (16)
Formula:
D
 
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
5
](OH)4 + or - nH
 
2
O


Also known as the Kaolinite-Serpentine Group.

Within this group Kaolinite, Dickite and Nacrite are actually polytypes of a single species, but the names have been "grandfathered" by the IMA. The species should probably be Kaolinite, with -1A (kaolinite), -1M (nacrite), and -2M (dickite) polytypes. - Most of the species in this Group have multiple polytypes due to stacking sequence variations.

Classification of Serpentine Group

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Chemical Properties of Serpentine Group

Formula:
D
 
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
5
](OH)4 + or - nH
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:H, O, Si

Relationship of Serpentine Group to other Species

Group Members:
Amesite
Mg
 
2
Al[(OH)
 
4
|AlSiO
 
5
]
Antigorite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
5
]
Berthierine
(Fe,Fe,Mg)
 
2-3
(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Brindleyite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al(Si,Al)O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Caryopilite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Clinochrysotile
Cronstedtite
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
5
](OH)
 
4
Dickite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Fraipontite
(Zn,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
]
Greenalite
Fe
 
2-3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Halloysite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Kaolinite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Kellyite
Mn
2+
2
Al[(OH)
 
4
|AlSiO
 
5
]
Lizardite
Mg
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
5
]
Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
Si
 
3
BO
 
10
(OH)
 
6
Nacrite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Népouite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Odinite
(Fe,Mg,Al,Fe,Ti,Mn)
 
2.4
(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Orthochrysotile
Parachrysotile
Pecoraite
Ni
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
5
]

Other Names for Serpentine Group

Synonyms:
Afghan JadeGreen JadeKanditeKaolinite-Serpentine GroupKorean Jade
Lemon JadeNew JadeOlive JadePiknotropPycnotrope
PyknotropSerpentineSerpophiteSuzhou jadeYellow Jade
Russian names:
Серпентин
Varieties:
BastiteNi-SerpentineNickeliferous SerpentinePelhamineRadiotine
RetinaliteRicolite

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Serpentine Group

Reference List:Zussman, J., Brindley, G.W., and Comer, J.J. (1957) Electron diffraction studies of serpentine minerals. American Mineralogist: 42: 133-153.

Page, N.J. and Coleman, R.G. (1967) Serpentine mineral analyses and physical properties. USGS Professional Paper 575-B: 103-107.

Page, N.J. (1968) Chemical differences among the serpentine “polymorphs.” American Mineralogist: 53: 201-215.

Luce, R.W. (1971), Identification of serpentine varieties by infrared absorption: USGS Professional Paper 750-B: 199-201.

Whittaker, E.J.W. and Zussman, J. (1971) The serpentine minerals. In: The Electron-Optical Investigation of Clays. (J.A. Gard, ed.) Mineral. Soc. Monograph 3: 159-191.

Sunagawa, I. and Koshino, Y. (1975) Growth Spiral on Kaolin Group Minerals. American Mineralogist: 60: 407-412.

Wicks, F.J. and Whittaker, E.J.W. (1975) A reappraisal of the structures of the serpentine minerals. Canadian Mineralogist: 13: 227-243.

Wicks, F.J. and O'Hanley, F.C. (1988) Serpentine minerals: Structures and petrology. In S.W. Bailey, Ed., Hydrous Phyllosilicates (exclusive of micas), 19, 91-159. Reviews in Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America, Chantilly, Virginia.

Wu, X.J. Li, F.H., and Hashimoto, H. (1989) High-resolution transmission electron microscopy study of the superstructure of Xiuyan Jade and Matterhorn serpentine. Acta Crystallographica: B45: 129-136.

Ulmer, P. and Trommsdorff, V. (1995) Serpentine stability to mantle depths and subduction-related magmatism. Science: 268: 858-861.

Irifune, T., Kuroda, K., Funamori, N., Uchida, T., Takehito, Y., Inoue, T., and Miyajima, N. (1996) Amorphization of serpentine at high pressure and high temperature. Science: 272: 1468-1470.

Auzende, A.L., Devouard, B., Guillot, S., Daniel, I., Baronnet, A., and Lardeaux, J.M. (2002) Serpentinites from Central Cuba: petrology and HRTEM study. European Journal of Mineralogy: 14: 905-914.

Auzende, A.L., Daniel, I., Reynard, B., Lemaire, C., and Guyot, F. (2004) High-pressure behaviour of serpentine minerals: a Raman spectroscopic study. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 31: 269-277.

Baronnet, A. and Devouard, B. (2005) Microstructures of common polygonal serpentines from axial HRTEM imaging, electron diffraction and simulation data. Canadian Mineralogist: 43: 513-542.

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    Localities for Serpentine Group

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