What is Verde Alpi, and is this green stone really marble?
Last updated November 2026.
Quick answer
- Look
- Deep green, usually with lighter veining or mottling
- Stone family
- Serpentine-type; antigorite, lizardite and chrysotile are the minerals
- Mohs hardness
- About 2.5–3.5 for serpentinite
- Specific gravity
- 2.2–2.9 for the serpentine group (about 137–181 lb/ft³)
- Main caution
- Most serpentines are susceptible to acids
Verde Alpi is a trade name for deep green stone of the serpentine type, sold alongside marble because it polishes like it. Geologically it is closer to serpentinite than to true marble. It is soft, takes a high polish, and is susceptible to acids, so it is cared for much like marble.
Ask about a piece in Verde Alpi
What is Verde Alpi?
Verde Alpi is a trade name for a deep green polished stone. It belongs to the serpentine type, a magnesium-silicate rock, not the calcium-carbonate family of white marbles. It is sold with marble because it carves, polishes and is used the same way.
The distinction matters when you ask how it will behave. Green serpentine-type stone is soft and sensitive to acids, but its chemistry is not that of Carrara or Calacatta.
What are the properties of Verde Alpi?
| Property | Verde Alpi |
|---|---|
| Rock and mineral family | Serpentinite: usually antigorite, lizardite and chrysotile, with magnetite [2] |
| Mohs hardness | Serpentine-group minerals rate 2.5 to 3.5, so the rock is easy to carve; the group page gives 2.5–4 for serpentines [2] |
| Specific gravity | 2.2–2.9 for the serpentine group; roughly 137–181 lb/ft³ when converted [3] |
| Color | Antigorite is green, yellowish-green or blue-gray; lizardite is green, brown, light yellow or white [3] |
| Acid sensitivity | Most serpentines are susceptible to acids [3] |
| Related decorative stone | Verd antique is a serpentinite breccia: dark green with white mottling or veining, taking a high polish [1] |
| Marble-like use | Serpentinite higher in calcite has been used as decorative stone for its marble-like qualities [2] |
| Classical localities (general geology) | Larissa in Thessaly, Greece; Piedmont, Italy; Rochester, Vermont [1] |
| Wet-area sealing | A stone sealer is recommended in the shower area and all wet areas [5] |
Numbers in brackets refer to the sources at the end of this page. Natural stone varies block to block.
Planning a piece in Verde Alpi?
Tell us about the room. We reply within one business day with options, and every quote gives the exact dimensions and weight of the piece.
Is Verde Alpi really marble?
Geologists would call it serpentinite or a serpentine breccia. Wikipedia's page on verd antique, the classic green decorative stone of this kind, notes it is sometimes erroneously called serpentine marble. Its serpentinite page says calcite-rich varieties have been used for their marble-like qualities.
| Property | White calcite marble | Serpentine-type green stone |
|---|---|---|
| Main mineral | Calcite (CaCO₃) | Antigorite, lizardite, chrysotile |
| Mohs hardness | 3 | 2.5–3.5 (group range 2.5–4) |
| Acid | Dissolves, fizzes | Susceptible to acids |
| Typical color | White to gray, veined | Green, brown, yellow or white tones |
Sources: Wikipedia, Calcite; Serpentinite; Serpentine group. The two families differ in chemistry, and the table is a summary, not a test.
What is serpentine, and why is it green?
Serpentinite forms when mafic or ultramafic rock is serpentinized. Its main minerals share the formula Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4. Antigorite is green, yellowish-green or blue-gray, which is where the deep green tone comes from.
Lighter streaks or mottling in this kind of stone may be calcite, dolomite or magnesite mixed in with the serpentine, as in verd antique.
Does a Verde Alpi piece come from Italy?
Pietra Fonte does not say so. Verde Alpi is a trade name that describes a look: deep green stone of the serpentine type. Green serpentinites have been quarried historically in Piedmont, Italy, in Larissa, Greece, and in Vermont, which shows how widely the type occurs.
Because the name does not fix an origin, ask us what we know about the block you are considering. We tell you what we can document and will not imply an Italian source we cannot.
How does a serpentine-type stone behave in a bathroom?
It carves easily, polishes deeply and is soft. At roughly Mohs 2.5 to 3.5 it scratches with grit and chips at thin edges, and since most serpentines are susceptible to acids, citrus, vinegar and acidic cleaners can dull the polish.
We do not publish an absorption figure for this stone here, because no standard value was available to us. Seal it as you would marble, since Great Floors recommends a stone sealer in the shower area and all wet areas, and treat any piece as a made-to-order natural object.
Which pieces suit a deep green stone?
- Vessel basin: the strongest use, with a small contact area and easy drying.
- Vanity top and basin: a rich contrast with brass or white fixtures; use trays under bottles.
- Freestanding tub: striking and heavy. Use the stone bathtub weight guide, and check floor loads with a structural engineer.
Dark green hides some water marks but shows pale etching clearly, much as black stone does. Leave drains, taps and connections to a licensed plumber and follow local code.
Dark green shows water spots and soap film more than white marble, so it suits pieces that are wiped often or see light use: a powder-room pedestal, a vanity top in a guest bath, or the outside of a tub. A honed finish hides marks better than polished, and a pale wall or floor around it lets the color read as deliberate rather than heavy.
How do you care for green marble?
- Dry the stone after use.
- Clean with a pH-neutral stone cleaner on a soft cloth.
- Keep acids and abrasive powders off it.
- Use a natural stone sealer in wet areas.
- Call a stone professional for dulling or chips.
See the stone bathtub care guide.
How does Verde Alpi compare with Nero Marquina and Carrara?
Nero Marquina is the other dark statement stone, but it is a limestone with calcite chemistry. Carrara is the quiet white counterpart. For the calcite figures that do not apply to green serpentine, see marble.
What does Pietra Fonte make in Verde Alpi?
Pietra Fonte carves green marble-type stone to order into bathtubs, basins and vanities, each from a single block, inspected with photos or video before shipping. Every quote gives exact dimensions and weight.
See the sample book for the green on offer, or ask about a custom piece through bespoke.
Pieces we make in Verde Alpi
Sources
Every piece is made to order. Tell us about the room and we reply within one business day.
Get a quoteOrder the sample book