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-fiberous serpentine is not a cancer concern. Asbestos serpentines should be kept in closed clear containers, but makes an attractive specimen. Sometimes with a golden color as the name chrysotile in greek means golden fibers.
Color is olive green, yellow or golden, brown, or black.
Luster is greasy, waxy or silky. Transparency crystals are translucent and masses are opaque. Crystal System is variable, see above. Veins of viberous serpentine can be found inside of massive serpentine or other rocks. Cleavage the varieties of crysotile have none, in lizardite and antigorite it is good in one direction.