green stone

["John VanCamp" <jvcstnwrks@zzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Hi guys.& Gals..  It is my understanding that the majority of green marbles
are actually serpentine.  There may be one or two exceptions to that, and
I'll do some research on it.  As for working serpentine, I have played a bit
with the "antique verdi" ( green marble) from Vermont.  Beautiful stone that
is a bear to work with.  Does not respond to the chisel well at all.  I have
also worked with a Texas stone known as the willow city serpentine.  Much
softer than the Vermont stone, a pleasure to work with and polishes to a
glass like finish without too much effort.

Major draw back is that this stone is blast quarried for terrazo chips, and
as a result it is neigh on impossible to find a piece of any size that is
not riddled with fractures and frizzels.  It also has a platey structure
much like some soapstones, so a large chunk can be knocked off if one is
careless with the chisel.  This does not seem to be the case with the
Vermont stone, although as I mentioned before, the Vermont stone doesn't
work well with the chisel. One thing to be aware of when using rotary tools
for detailed undercutting--- the heat generated can cause the thin undercut
edge to crack and blow off.  Much care needed while doing this.

Good luck all
John VanCamp / JVC Stoneworks