Lizardite is a common member of the serpentine group and is typically found as dense, massive, or scaly green to grey aggregates. Collectors should look for its characteristic greasy luster and waxy feel, which differentiates it from harder silicate minerals in similar environments.
Is this lizardite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch lizardite with a known reference. Lizardite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: waxy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellow-green, white, gray, brown, green blue, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: massive, foliated, or scaly aggregates.
Often confused with
Lizardite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy on Lizardite and resinous, greasy, silky, waxy, earthy on Antigorite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy on Lizardite and silky on Chrysotile.
How to tell apart: Lizardite is noticeably harder (Mohs 2.5 vs. 1); luster reads waxy on Lizardite and pearly, greasy, dull on Talc.
Often found alongside lizardite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lizardite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 2.55 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Waxy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, foliated, or scaly aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {0001}
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Decorative, Ornamental
- Host rock
- Typically a product of retrograde metamorphism, replacing olivine, orthopyroxene, or other minerals in ultramafic igneous rocks
Where rockhounds find lizardite
Classic worldwide localities
- Stillwater complex, Montana, USA
- Kennack Cove, The Lizard, Cornwall, England
- Unst, Shetland Islands, Scotland
- Val Sissone, Lombardy, and Val Trebbia, Piacenza, Italy
- Maruo Odori and Kodo, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and at Hamao, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
- Woodsreef, New South Wales, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Typically a product of retrograde metamorphism, replacing olivine, orthopyroxene, or other minerals in ultramafic igneous rocks. If you start seeing chrysotile, brucite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, foliated, or scaly aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lizardite?+
Where is lizardite found?+
What rocks look like lizardite?+
What minerals are found with lizardite?+
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Find lizardite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
