Gemstone Bead, "Jade", Olive, Round, 8MM

The serpentine group are greenish, brownish, or spotted minerals commonly found in serpentine rocks. They are used as a source of magnesium, and as a decorative stone.The name is thought to come from the greenish color being that of a serpent.

The serpentine group describes a group of common rock-forming hydrous magnesium iron phyllosilicate minerals; they may contain minor amounts of other elements including chromium, manganese, cobalt or nickel. In mineralogy and gemology, serpentine may refer to any of 20 varieties belonging to the serpentine group. Owing to admixture, these varieties are not always easy to individualize, and distinctions are not usually made. There are three important mineral polymorphs of serpentine: antigorite, chrysotile and lizardite.

The chrysotile group of minerals are polymorphous, meaning that they have the same chemical formula, but the molecules are arranged into different structures, or crystal lattice.

Many types of serpentine have been used for jewellry and hardstone carving, sometimes under the name false jade or Teton jade.