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Serpentine in the Market: Trade Names, Types, and What You Should Know

Updated: 2 days ago

Serpentine is a beautiful and versatile stone prized for its calming green tones, smooth texture, and nurturing energy. Often associated with jade because of its similar appearance, serpentine holds its own deep significance in crystal healing, carving arts, and cultural traditions.

In this post, we’ll explore the many names serpentine goes by in the market, its mineral characteristics, metaphysical properties, color variations, practical uses, and buying tips.



Serpentine Colors

What is Serpentine?

Serpentine is a group of magnesium-rich silicate minerals known for their earthy beauty and gentle energy. It is typically found in green to yellow-green hues and has a waxy or silky luster.

Mineral Category

Silicate (phyllosilicate)

Chemical Formula

(Mg,Fe)₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄

Hardness

2.5 to 5.5 (Mohs)

Luster

Greasy, waxy, silky

Transparency

Opaque to translucent

Common Colors

Green, yellow-green, brown, black, pink, orange, gold

Serpentine’s softness makes it a favorite for hand-carved figurines, polished beads, and spiritual tools. It is also one of the most diverse healing stones when it comes to color variety.


🌈 Rare Color Varieties

While green is the most common, serpentine can also occur in:

  • Pink Serpentine – Often colored by manganese; associated with heart-healing and gentle energy.

  • Orange or Reddish Serpentine – Usually due to oxidized iron; energizing and uplifting.

  • Creamy or White Serpentine – Soft and soothing, often used in spiritual purification.

  • Golden Serpentine (Golden Silk Jade) – A luxurious yellow-gold variety, often translucent with fibrous patterns, marketed in China as 黄金丝玉 (Huángjīn sī yù). It is a form of serpentine highly valued for its silk-like glow and elegance in carvings and jewelry.

These rare colors are valued in metaphysical circles and are becoming more popular in jewelry and carvings.


Common Trade Names for Serpentine

Trade Name

Chinese Name (if applicable)

Notes

Korean Jade

韩玉 (Hán yù)

Most widely used name in East Asia

Xiuyan Jade

岫岩玉 (Xiùyán yù)

From Xiuyan, Liaoning Province, China

New Mountain Jade

新山玉 (Xīnshān yù)

Generic term used in Taiwan and China

Styrian Jade

From Styria, Austria; deep green serpentine

Afghan Serpentine

阿富汗玉 (Āfùhàn yù)

Often light-colored or creamy green

Olive Jade

Yellow-green serpentine with olive hue

Lemon Jade

Light yellow to pale green serpentine

Russian Greenstone

Marketed in Europe; often serpentine or bowenite

South African Jade

Commercial name; green serpentine variety

Serpentine Marble

Used in carvings, tiles, and home décor

Golden Silk Jade

黄金丝玉 (Huángjīn sī yù)

Translucent golden serpentine with silky patterns

ℹ️ Many of these names include the word "jade" to reflect aesthetic similarity, not mineral classification.


Metaphysical Properties and Benefits

Serpentine is deeply connected to Earth energy, making it a powerful ally for grounding, healing, and transformation.

Spiritual and Emotional Benefits:

  • Aligns the heart and crown chakras

  • Promotes kundalini awakening and spiritual growth

  • Aids in releasing fear, trauma, and emotional blockages

  • Enhances meditation, intuition, and inner peace

  • Encourages connection with nature and past lives


Physical and Practical Uses:

  • Used in feng shui to promote abundance and calmness

  • Carved into amulets, figurines, worry stones, and yoga tools

  • Popular in massage wands and Gua Sha tools for muscle relaxation

  • Used in home decor to bring earthy, soothing energy into a space

  • Often made into beads, pendants, and bracelets for everyday support


Buyer’s Tips

  • Check polish and color: Serpentine has a waxy or smooth luster.

  • Ask for origin or variety: Xiuyan and Korean jade are highly regarded.

  • Match to purpose: Select lighter tones for spiritual work, darker greens for grounding, pink/orange for heart and vitality, golden tones for luxury and abundance.





Conclusion

Serpentine is a nurturing and harmonizing stone that offers beauty, energy balance, and spiritual support. With its wide range of colors—from classic green to rare pink, orange, and golden silk—serpentine is both versatile and vibrantly alive with energy.

Though often called jade in commercial settings, serpentine carries its own rich identity and legacy in carvings, metaphysical practices, and holistic well-being.

Whether you call it Xiuyan jade, Korean jade, or golden silk jade—serpentine is a gemstone worth exploring and honoring in its own right.


To learn more about actual jades, you can check out our other blogs here



 
 
 

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