RocksdayJadeite vs Serpentine
How to tell them apart
One of the two minerals called jade. Its tightly interlocked crystals make it extremely tough.
Photo: Shannon Heinle, CC0
A group of green magnesium silicates formed when mantle rocks react with water. Smooth, greasy and often mottled like snakeskin.
Photo: Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick tests
- Scratch glass: Jadeite scratches glass (Mohs 6.5–7); Serpentine can't (Mohs 2.5–5).
- Heft: Jadeite feels noticeably heavier for its size (specific gravity 3.24–3.43 vs 2.5–2.6).
Key differences
- Serpentine is much softer — a knife scratches it.
- Jade is much harder and tougher.
Side by side
| Property | Jadeite | Serpentine |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 | 2.5–5 |
| Luster | Vitreous to greasy | Greasy to waxy |
| Streak | White | White |
| Colors | Green, White, Purple | Green, Yellow, Black |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic | Monoclinic |
| Specific gravity | 3.24–3.43 | 2.5–2.6 |
| Formula | NaAlSi₂O₆ | Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄ |
| Found in | Hpakant, Myanmar; Motagua Valley, Guatemala | California; Liaoning, China |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify jadeite
- Very tough — hard to chip or break.
- Feels heavy and cold, with a slightly greasy polish.
- Green, white or lavender, often mottled.
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Full Jadeite guide →How to identify serpentine
- Mottled green, often with darker streaks.
- Greasy or waxy feel when polished.
- Usually scratched by a knife.
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Full Serpentine guide →More comparisons
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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