Birds on a Rock

A type of Serpentine which depicts the colours of a Hyenas Coat. A relatively new stone.

Usually found in green with inclusions of blues, gold, red and browns. The only known deposits are found in areas where gold was first discovered in Africa many centuries ago. It is related to the Serpentinite and occurs in various lens-shaped pods dotted over a 25-kilometre range. The material has no cleavage and is riddled with intrusions of corundum (ruby) crystals (hence the name Ruby Verdite), quarts, calcite and mica. Chromium is the mineral, which gives Verdite its distinctive rich green colour – Ruby Verdite can be extremely hard.

Again not a true ‘Opal’. A beautiful light greenish serpentine. Opal stone is a very hard stone finely textured with an almost translucent surface sometimes specked with red, orange and bluish dots and patches. Opal stone has many variations from milky light coloured greens to darker almost black, but all with a smooth texture. It is also mined at Chiweshe, two hours north of Harare. This stone is one of the favourites of sculptors, as it’s not as hard as springstone and other serpentines, but still polishes to a high finish. Opal stone also, at times, has brown throughout the green.

Is a creamy yellow colour with dark striations throughout and is sometimes also known as Butter stone. Locally called ‘Jade’, it is not however a true Jade. The striations found in the attractive yellow-green sedimentary rock are actually layers containing fossilized algae.

Avocado serpentine is a hard variety of serpentine stone, named after its striking green and yellow colouration. All colour and texture within the stone is entirely natural. Unsurprisingly, this hard variety of serpentine stone has been named ‘avocado’ after it’s striking green and yellow colouration.

Beautifully coloured stone with ‘spot’ marks similar to a leopard. It is similar to serpentine; having a creamy yellow colour with black blotches. The only known deposits of Leopard Rock are in Zimbabwe. It is a very difficult stone to carve and only skilled sculptors will attempt this rock. Power tools are used due to the hardness and to get the definition. Leopard Rock when polished has a beautiful glazed finish.