Serpentine, a broad family of magnesium silicate hydrate minerals, is quarried primarily from ultramafic rock belts for use in construction aggregates, decorative stone, CO₂ mineralization research, soil amendment, and niche refractories. Production is typically open-pit, with selective extraction to manage variability in fiber content and chemistry (chrysotile presence often triggers tighter handling protocols). Supply is geographically diverse—major output comes from China, Russia, India, and parts of Southern Europe and North America—yet volumes are highly localized to infrastructure demand and environmental permitting. Processing is straightforward (crushing, screening, grading), which keeps capital intensity modest; however, beneficiation to specialized grades (e.g., high-Mg for carbonation or acid-soluble fractions for fertilizer trials) adds cost. Logistics weigh heavily: serpentine’s bulk, relatively low unit value, and regional end uses make freight a decisive component of delivered price.