Verde Antique is a metamorphic rock composed mainly of serpentinite with veins of calcite or dolomite. It is prized by collectors and architects for its striking dark green base color contrasted with white or light green veining, often taking a high polish for decorative use.
Is this verde antique?
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 verde antique with a known reference. Verde Antique sits at Mohs 3-5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the textureLook at a fresh break with a hand lens. Texture: White-mottled or white-veined.
- 3Pick out the mineralsComposition: Serpentine mixed with calcite, dolomite or magnesite. Identify the two or three most abundant grains.
- 4Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: waxy.
- 5Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, dark green, white, black.
Often confused with
Verde Antique vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy on Verde Antique and subvitreous on Marble.
How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy on Verde Antique and adamantine to vitreous; silky if fibrous; dull to earthy if massive on Malachite.
Often found alongside verde antique
Minerals reported to co-occur with verde antique. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 3-5
- Density
- 2.5-2.8 g/cm³
- Luster
- Waxy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Decorative, Lapidary, Sculpture, Architecture
- Host rock
- metamorphic complexes
- Texture
- White-mottled or white-veined
- Composition
- Serpentine mixed with calcite, dolomite or magnesite
Where rockhounds find verde antique
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Vermont, USA
- Ireland
- Greece
- Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: metamorphic complexes. If you start seeing calcite, dolomite, serpentine in float, you are in the right ground. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Maryland. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find verde antique on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
