Jade Gemstone
"Jade gemstone is
either Jadeite or Nephrite Jade."
There are two minerals legitimately called Jade, Nephrite Jade and Jadeite, but many countries and nationalities call any and all opaque or translucent green stone “Jade”.
Nephrite is derived from the Greek word nephros meaning kidney and Jade from the Spanish word ijada meaning pain in the side because the Spanish believed this mineral cured kidney stones.
Nephrite Jade artefacts of ceremonial nature ranging from indoor decorative items to jade burial suits, ceremonial axes, bridal carriages and jewellery have been unearthed from prehistoric and historic China, European countries, New Zealand, British Columbia, Mexico and South America.
Nephrite Jade’s structure is composed of interwoven, fibrous crystals making it very tough, therefore it is not carved, but ground into shape then polished.
British Columbia Jade is considered extremely fine quality, while Australian Black Jade is a collector’s mineral.
Nephrite Jade occurs in a range of colours from translucent white to light yellow, opaque white to light brown, grey, and black as well as many shades of green.
Nephrite Jade forms in mass (stones & boulders).
Jadeite (commonly called Jade) in pure form is white, but the most popular and sought after colours are bright apple-green, lavenders and violets, with pink, orange, brown and black also in great demand.
The Chinese claim Jadeite as their own, but this translucent stone was imported from Burma to China only after about 1800.
Burmese Jade (Jadeite) is well known as being the finest quality Jadeite in the world for depth of colour, intensity, charity and translucency which all affect the price.
True Jadeite is found in Burma, California, Guatemala, Russia, Japan, Hawaii, and Switzerland. Jadeite forms in mass (stones and boulders).
Jade. By markb120
This page was written by Magda Palmer, a gemmologist and the author of The Healing Power of Crystals
, Precious Stones
and Feng Shui Student
Manual
, which I
highly recommend.Back to List of Gemstones
