Serpentine is a relatively common stone, and I have been told it is the result of metamorphism. I really like the greenish color and pattern varieties of Serpentine because it varies so much from chunk to chunk. The look of Serpentine from different locations also varies pretty significantly. Gemologists think of Serpentine as a single gemstone, but it actually takes several different forms called Antigorite, Chrysotile, and Lizardite (probably because of its lizardskin-like look).

Serpentine occurs all over, and I have cut some of the material from Wyoming. I found stone from this location to have a tendency to fracture along parallel lines, making it hard to produce large stable slabs. This may have to do with its fibrous nature. When cabbed well, it will take a high polish, and some pieces are truly beautiful.