The facts
What lizardite actually is
The species behind lizardite is serpentine subgroup, Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄; it forms in the trigonal system.
Fe²⁺ and Ni give green to yellow-green is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.538–1.560 and a specific gravity of about 2.55, with perfect basal cleavage.
Where lizardite comes from
Commercial material comes from Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, England, Val Sissone, Lombardy, Italy and Cedar Hill, Pennsylvania, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How lizardite is treated
Very soft, so almost always waxed or resin-impregnated when cut. Cornish serpentine turnery is a traditional craft; the polish is maintained with wax.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What lizardite is confused with
Watch for Antigorite, Soapstone and Verdite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.538–1.560 and specific gravity 2.55 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What lizardite is used for
The trades that buy lizardite are carving and sculpture, decorative objects, architecture and interiors and mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the block, by the piece or by the square metre.
Durability and care
Lizardite is 2.5 on the Mohs scale, with perfect basal cleavage.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What lizardite costs
Expect roughly Rough under 5 USD/kg; turned Cornish objects 20–200 USD, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is lizardite treated, and how?
Very soft, so almost always waxed or resin-impregnated when cut. Cornish serpentine turnery is a traditional craft; the polish is maintained with wax.
Where does lizardite come from?
Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, England, Val Sissone, Lombardy, Italy and Cedar Hill, Pennsylvania, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is lizardite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2.5 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does lizardite cost?
Indicatively Rough under 5 USD/kg; turned Cornish objects 20–200 USD. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is lizardite confused with?
Most often Antigorite, Soapstone and Verdite. A refractive index of 1.538–1.560 and a specific gravity near 2.55 separate it quickly.
What is lizardite used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects, architecture and interiors and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for lizardite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about lizardite