Serpentinite as a strategic Earth material: geological controls, mineral reactivity, carbon mineralization, geologic hydrogen, and sustainable resource pathways

Abstract

Serpentinite, the hydrated ultramafic lithology formed during serpentinization of mantle peridotites, is increasingly recognized as a strategic yet heterogeneous geomaterial for construction, carbon-management, and energy-related pathways. This review synthesizes knowledge by linking geological origin, serpentine polymorph assemblage, accessory phases, alteration degree, and structure–property–reactivity relationships to application performance. Rather than cataloguing uses, it evaluates serpentinite pathways according to mineralogical control, processing intensity, evidence maturity, functional advantage, scalability, and environmental or occupational risk. Emphasis is placed on how lizardite, chrysotile, antigorite, brucite, magnetite, microstructural heterogeneity, and serpentinization degree govern surface reactivity, Mg accessibility, porosity evolution, mechanical competence, dissolution behavior, carbonation kinetics, and fiber-related constraints. These controls explain serpentinite’s established use as dimension stone, aggregate, and refractory or ceramic feedstock, while supporting process-sensitive pathways such as magnesium-silicate binders, low-carbon construction products, Mg recovery, adsorption media, radiation-shielding concretes, and engineered porous materials. The review assesses its relevance to climate and energy systems, particularly permanent CO₂ sequestration by mineral carbonation and abiotic hydrogen generation through serpentinization-driven redox reactions. Additional opportunities, including enhanced rock weathering, magnesium-chemical production, thermal-management materials, and quarry-residue valorization, are evaluated as lithotype-specific and risk-governed options. Practical deployment remains constrained by mineralogical heterogeneity, carbonation and Mg-extraction kinetics, activation-energy demand, water and reagent requirements, Ni–Cr mobility, and potential chrysotile or elongated mineral-particle occurrence. Future progress requires polymorph- and texture-resolved databases, pilot-scale validation, integrated techno-economic and life-cycle assessment, and risk-aware resource allocation. Overall, serpentinite is best understood as a fit-for-purpose geomaterial platform whose value depends on coupling mineralogical qualification with controlled processing and environmental governance.