Seraphinite is the trade name for a particular form of clinochlore – a member of the Chlorite group. The word Clinochlore is derived from the two Greek words “klino” meaning “oblique” and “chloros” meaning “green”.

Seraphinite varies from deep green to green-black to grey with inclusions of silvery Mica in it. The Mica inclusions exhibit a chatoyancy. It has its hardness between 2 and 4 on Moh’s scale of mineral hardness.

Seraphinite resembles feathers similar to those seen on a bird’s wing right from the short feathery growths to the longer wing feathers.

The feathery wing patterns made by the silvery Mica inclusions within the stone remind one of the winged angels. Seraphinite, is derived from the Latin word “seraphin” which refers to the first order of angels.

Seraphinite is mined in a limited area of eastern Siberia in Russia. Nikolay Koksharov a Russian mineralogist is often credited with its discovery.