Bowenite

Bowenite is a rare member of the Serpentine group of minerals that includes Antigorite and Lizardite. Bowenite is a variety of the mineral Antigorite but is much more transparent and has a Moh’s hardness of 4.0 – 6.0 compared to Antigorite’s 2.5 – 3.5 hardness. Bowenite can be found in shades of pale yellowish green to green but can also be found as pale (almost colorless) to dark bluish green. Some Bowenite gems can have a beautiful, pearly luster.

Bowenite was originally named by James D. Dana in 1850 after George T. Bowen who first analyzed material from Rhode Island in 1822 (although he misidentified the material as being related to nephrite jade). In 1853 George J. Brush and J. L. Smith of Yale University found the mineral to be identical with Serpentine. Bowenite was declared the state mineral of Rhode Island in 1966.

The main source of Bownite is the Soochow region of China but is also found in Afghanistan and in the USA at Eustis, Maine; Stoneham, Massachusettes; New Rochelle, New York; Dexter Quarry (the Type Locality), Lincoln, Rhode Island; and Newfane, Vermont.

 

Chemical Formula:	Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
	Magnesium Silicate Hydroxide