Is Your Serpentine Jewelry Safe? Asbestos Concerns & Identification

Question
Dear Steven,

I wonder if you could tell me how safe serpentine from Peru is. I have some jewelry from there but I am also worried that it may have asbestos in it. Same question for some serpentine which I received from Asia although I am not sure which country. Many thanks for any help.

Answer
Hi Angela,

Is your stone fibrous looking?  Asbestos is very fibrous, and curly in the serpentine.  Chrysotile is the serpentine mineral that has asbestos in it.  There are other varieties that are not asbestos.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Steven D.Covey