Sasso della Maltesca
Monterenzio
Monterenzio
Subject: Rocks and fossils
Toponym: Serpentina della Maltesca
Type: Serpentinite
Municipality: Monterenzio
Locality: Sasso della Maltesca
Description
Serpentinite is a dynamo-thermal-metamorphic rock with a mesh structure made up of large bastite aggregates in parallel, shiny lamellae (lizardite) replacing the original orthopyroxene, embedded in a matrix made up of finer-grained serpentine and magnetite granules.
The rock was used for ornamental purposes, especially during the Renaissance, given its characteristic dark green colour.