Ricolite is a banded variety of serpentine often characterized by its attractive alternating light and dark green layers. It is frequently polished for decorative items and lapidary work due to its attractive color patterns and ease of carving. It is most notably found in New Mexico, where it forms in contact metamorphic environments.
Is this ricolite?
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 ricolite with a known reference. Ricolite sits at Mohs 3-5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Ricolite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Ricolite typically shows a waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellow, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Ricolite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside ricolite
Minerals reported to co-occur with ricolite. 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
- 3-5
- Density
- 2.5-2.6 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Waxy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Decorative, Lapidary, Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphic
- Typical price
- $5-50 for slabs or polished specimens
Where rockhounds find ricolite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- New Mexico, USA
- Arizona, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic country — that is the host setting where ricolite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, dolomite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New Mexico — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find ricolite on the map
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