Antigorite
specimen number:
2062125
location:
Ropes Gold Mine, Marquette Co., Michigan, USA
description: Antigorite is a common mineral member of the serpentine group, often serving as a primary component of the metamorphic rock known as serpentinite. Geologically, it forms through the high-grade hydrothermal alteration or low-temperature metamorphism of ultramafic rocks rich in magnesium silicates, such as olivine and pyroxene. Unlike its relatives chrysotile and lizardite, antigorite is characterized by a distinctive corrugated or wavy sheet structure at the atomic level, which allows it to remain stable under significantly higher pressures and temperatures deep within subduction zones. This mineral typically appears in shades of dark green to yellowish-green and can exhibit a waxy or greasy luster with a splintery fracture. Historically, antigorite has been a subject of intense study in structural geology because its presence and subsequent dehydration play a critical role in the lubrication of tectonic plates and the generation of arc volcanism. Today, it is valued both as a geological indicator of deep-earth processes and as a decorative stone in its massive, polished forms.
Lustrous green vein of antigorite in matrix. Good example for the species. Collected on June 22, 1997.
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