Serpentino Poschiavo is a Palaeozoic peridotite from Selva near Poschiavo in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, with a deep dark green to almost black ground colour and a characteristically speckled, ultramafic mineral texture. Also traded as Bündner Serpentin or Puschlaver Serpentin — an exceptionally dense, high-strength Alpine material for designed interior wall cladding, floors, exposed surfaces, fireplace surrounds and prestige interior architecture.
Petrographisch ein Peridotit (ultramafisches Tiefengestein), im Handel als Serpentin/Marmor-anmutendes Material geführt.
Other trade names: Bundner Serpentin, Poschiavo Serpentine, Puschlaver Serpentin, Selva
About Serpentino Poschiavo
Serpentino Poschiavo is one of the most tradition-rich Swiss natural materials — a Palaeozoic peridotite from the Selva quarry near Poschiavo in the canton of Graubünden, used in Alpine architecture for centuries as 'Bündner Serpentin' or 'Puschlaver Serpentin'. Characteristic is a deep dark green to almost black ground colour with an evenly speckled, ultramafic mineral texture — the slab pattern shows the typical olivine, pyroxene and serpentine crystals in a dense, crystalline bond that becomes visible with varying depth and mineral variety depending on the finish. On the market the material also runs under the designations Selva, Bündner Serpentin, Puschlaver Serpentin and Poschiavo Serpentine. At ROSSITTIS we carry Serpentino Poschiavo for designed wall cladding, floors, interior stairs, fireplace surrounds, exposed bar counters, vanity tops, decorative exposed surfaces and project-specific bespoke work where a dark green Alpine material signature is wanted.
Geologically, despite the trade name 'Serpentino', Serpentino Poschiavo is not a serpentinite in the narrower petrographic sense but a Palaeozoic peridotite — an ultramafic igneous plutonic rock from the ophiolitic sequences of the Alps. Peridotites are among the rarest rocks worked commercially and derive geologically from deeper crustal zones or the upper mantle. Mineralogically they consist predominantly of olivine and pyroxene with partly serpentinised areas — hence the historic trade name, even though full serpentinisation has not been reached. DNSA documents the material under entry 498 (INSK 58.6) with the main name POSCHIAVO. The Selva quarry near Poschiavo has supplied this material consistently for decades for Swiss and central European architecture. In international stone trading, Serpentino Poschiavo is usually assigned to the marble family on account of its dark green appearance and its decorative interior use, although the petrographic classification is peridotite — the technical properties, however, lie well above those of classic marbles.
The technical values are exceptional for a material traded as 'marble-like': bulk density 3,000 kg/m³ (very high, typical of ultrabasic rocks), compressive strength 237.2 MPa (one of the highest among European natural building stones), flexural strength 47.5 MPa (extremely high — more than double the usual granite values), water absorption only 0.01 per cent (virtually nil). Frost resistance is DNSA-confirmed. These values make Serpentino Poschiavo technically one of the most robust natural building stones of all — the flexural strength is exceptional and makes the material particularly suitable for heavily loaded floors, slender supporting elements and unsupported constructions. One important particularity: DNSA documents a partial acid sensitivity — individual mineral components are not permanently acid-resistant. In practice this means acidic cleaners and concentrated acids are to be avoided. The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.
At ROSSITTIS, Serpentino Poschiavo is available as an unsized slab, as a floor tile, as tread and riser, as a window sill, as a skirting, as a wall facing, as an exposed-surface element and as a project-specific cut; likewise as an exposed bar counter, fireplace surround and vanity top. The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. The material's main field of application is, on DNSA's recommendation, the interior.
Our honest assessment: Serpentino Poschiavo is an exceptionally high-quality Swiss Alpine material with a unique combination of dark green decorative appearance and top technical values. For designed interior wall cladding, prestige floors, exposed bar counters, fireplace surrounds and statement architecture in the Alpine tradition, the material is a first-class choice — its unique material signature results from the ultramafic mineralogy, which is found in no other widely available stone family. In making a selection it should be noted that the material is conceived primarily for interior use; acidic cleaners and long-term external polished applications are to be avoided. For classic external façades and paving with a polished finish requirement, a classic hard granite is better suited; for designed dark green interior surfaces with Swiss Alpine character, Serpentino Poschiavo is a very strong choice.
In stock
Current availability from our warehouse.
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Technical data
Guide values for the stone type, taken from manufacturer and test reports. Natural stone is a natural product — individual batches and slabs can differ. For critical applications, request slab-specific test data.
Serpentino Poschiavo is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.
Sandgestrahlt
Die Oberfläche wird mit Hochdruck und Quarzsand bestrahlt und gleichmäßig aufgeraut — die Fläche bleibt insgesamt plan, fühlt sich aber rau an. Die Farbe wirkt weniger intensiv als bei polierten Varianten. Rutschhemmend und frostbeständig — für Außenbereiche, Pflasterungen und Stufen mit Anforderung an Trittsicherheit geeignet.
Care & fabrication
As a Swiss peridotite, Serpentino Poschiavo can be maintained over the long term and cleaned without difficulty. With water absorption of only 0.01 per cent, the material is among the densest natural building stones of all — stains can barely penetrate. A silane- or polysiloxane-based sealer after installation is nevertheless advisable, above all on exposed bar counters and heavily used interior surfaces, in order to protect the depth of the material over the long term. Routine cleaning is done with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a soft microfibre cloth or mop; clear water alone is almost always sufficient for daily care. Important: because of the partial acid sensitivity of the mineral components, acidic cleaners (vinegar, citric acid, descalers) and strongly alkaline all-purpose cleaners must be avoided at all costs — they can dissolve individual mineral constituents and dull the polish. Take up food acids such as wine, lemon juice or vinegar promptly. The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. We recommend refreshing the sealer every three to five years depending on exposure.
Frequently asked questions
Is Serpentino Poschiavo really a serpentinite?
Petrographically, despite the trade name 'Serpentino', Serpentino Poschiavo is not a serpentinite in the narrower sense but a Palaeozoic peridotite — an ultramafic igneous plutonic rock. Peridotites contain partly serpentinised mineral areas, which explains the historic trade name. The technical properties, however, lie well above those of classic serpentinites and marbles — higher density, higher strength, lower water absorption.
What other designations does the material go by?
On the market the material runs under several tradition-rich designations: Serpentino Poschiavo (the main Italian designation), Selva (after the quarry location), Bündner Serpentin (the Swiss German designation), Puschlaver Serpentin (the German variant after the Puschlav valley) and Poschiavo Serpentine. All designations refer to the same Swiss peridotite from Selva near Poschiavo.
What technical values does Serpentino Poschiavo have?
From the DNSA entry (498, INSK 58.6): bulk density 3,000 kg/m³ (very high, typical of ultrabasic rocks), compressive strength 237.2 MPa, flexural strength 47.5 MPa (extremely high — more than double the usual granite values), water absorption 0.01 per cent (virtually nil). Frost resistance DNSA-confirmed. Acid resistance is partial — individual mineral components are not permanently acid-resistant.
Which finishes are available for Serpentino Poschiavo?
The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block on this page.
Is Serpentino Poschiavo suitable for kitchen worktops?
With qualifications. The high compressive strength (237.2 MPa) and the virtually nil water absorption (0.01 per cent) make the material technically very robust. Because of the partial acid sensitivity, wine, lemon juice or vinegar should not be left to act for extended periods — take up spilled acids promptly and avoid acidic cleaners. With good sealing, Serpentino Poschiavo is a characterful choice for designed bar counters and cooking islands; for main worktops with heavy acid exposure, acid-proof hard granites or quartzites are the safer choice.
Where is Serpentino Poschiavo quarried?
Serpentino Poschiavo comes from the Selva quarry near Poschiavo in the canton of Graubünden in south-eastern Switzerland. The Puschlav valley lies on the Italian-Swiss border and is among the most tradition-rich natural stone producing regions of the Alps — Bündner Serpentin has been used in Swiss and northern Italian architecture for centuries.
What is an ophiolitic sequence?
An ophiolitic sequence is a geological occurrence in which former ocean floor has been raised to the earth's surface by tectonic processes. The Alps contain numerous ophiolitic remnants from the early phase of Alpine orogeny — ultramafic rocks such as Serpentino Poschiavo derive geologically from deeper crustal zones or the upper mantle and have become accessible through Alpine folding.
