Collection: Lizardite

Lizardite is a magnesium silicate hydroxide mineral, making it volumetrically the most common member of the Serpentine Subgroup. It belongs to the 1:1 trioctahedral phyllosilicate (sheet silicate) class and typically forms through serpentinization, a process where water alters olivine- and pyroxene-rich ultramafic rocks at relatively low temperatures. Discovered in 1955 and named after its type locality at the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, United Kingdom, lizardite is characterized by its extremely fine-grained, platy, or scaly crystal structure, contrasting with its fibrous polymorph, chrysotile. It features a soft texture ranking between 2.5 and 3.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, a distinctive waxy to greasy luster, and colors ranging from vibrant lime green and yellow-green to pale gray or white. Because it can take a beautiful polish, lizardite is frequently utilized by lapidaries to create decorative carvings, ornamental stoneware, and cabochons for collectors.