Often described commercially as a marble, verde antique is actually a type of serpentinite, a metamorphic rock primarily composed of the mineral serpentine. The material is frequently classed as a marble, however, due to its characteristic mottled or veined appearance and its ability to be polished to a marble-like luster.

Verde antique is usually green in color, but may also display a yellowish hue. It is primarily utilized as an ornamental stone and was particularly popular among the ancient Romans, who often used it to accent pillars and create ornate indoor decorations. Consequently, many buildings from the Italian Renaissance, as well as modern structures built in a Romanesque style, also utilize verde antique. In the United States, verde antique is quarried in several locations, including Georgia, California, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Vermont. The physical properties of most varieties of the stone make it most suitable for use in locations where it is shielded from abrasion and the elements.

Questions or comments? Send us an email.

© 1998-2022 by Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University. All Rights Reserved. No images, graphics, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner without permission from the copyright holders. Use of this website means you agree to all of the Legal Terms and Conditions set forth by the owners.

This website is maintained by our
Graphics & Web Programming Team
in collaboration with Optical Microscopy at the
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.

Last modification: Friday, Nov 13, 2015 at 01:19 PM

Access Count Since November 20, 2003: 10943

For more information on microscope manufacturers,
use the buttons below to navigate to their websites: