Antigorite
Mineral Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
Also called Williamsite and Precious serpentine
About it
The platy or massive, non-fibrous serpentine; translucent green bowenite and williamsite are carved and sometimes sold as "new jade". Common in serpentinite worldwide.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Silicate (phyllosilicate), serpentine group
- Formula
- Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 2.5–4
- Specific gravity
- 2.55–2.65
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- greasy, resinous, waxy
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- green, blue-green, yellow-green, white, black
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent, opaque
- Cleavage and fracture
- perfect in one direction (rarely visible); splintery fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.