Seraphinite is a trade name for a particular form of clinochlore, a member of the chlorite group. The dark green color of seraphinite is enhanced by a silvery and feathery shimmer caused by mica inclusions. Seraphinite was named after the seraphim, the highest order of angels, because of the feather-like appearance of the chatoyant fibers in the stone.
The mineral clinochlore was first identified in 1851 in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It has since been discovered in a number of other locales in the USA, including New York, Arizona, and New Jersey. Clinochlore can also be found in other countries, including Spain, Switzerland, Russia, Turkey, and Italy.