Jade – Who’s the queen, Nephrite or Jadeite
By Shane of Radical Rocks
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFKP92oruG0FHWuWstqI-t_BhyLAhox4oanlt_sdE4_xYdOhaDnfqO1XXcT6Jdjh6fDmlnNBI7VNx20obMk-K2zIgIibTDct7puNBWY6fN52mWd30vYOTXlm6XCGu-F5tcxGIZwX3JWZ_/s1600/170px-Dagger_India_Louvre_MR13434.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0omETdNJ0CfCW7Ud3mabCmdLyUgUbi_t4MEV33hYZnzV96DWrlxLEIIeZARGG60hGKOfhHOMWneFGtNNxkLdc5E-6zleuz5gh2Wh2wMNrKvKM5ttMx4ENLitMw5olHOJDw8DskXS1Ljd/s1600/jade+carve.jpg)
So, telling the two
apart with the naked eye is difficult at best, so a good way to check is with
our friend "specific gravity" and this is a very common way of identification.
Now for some Jade facts and differences;
1.
Jadeite is rarer and more valuable, however
large chunks of nephrite can fetch thousands of dollars
2.
Hardness: Nephrite 6 – 6.5; Jadeite 6.5 – 7.
3.
Jadeite is a bit harder and denser, so it seems
to take a better polish
4.
Specific gravity; Nephrite;2.90 – 3.02 Jadeite;
3.3 – 3.5
5.
Color: Nephrite ranges usually from mid to dark
green to a gray green, it can also be white, yellowish or reddish. I have even
seen black. Jadeite has more color variations that include, yellow, lavender –
mauve, pink and emerald green, I have even seen blue streaks is some African
Jadeite
6.
Grading of Jadeite and nephrite will be done in reverse,
the highest grade for nephrite is clear and white, also called “water jade”, and
then the best Jadeite is “imperial green” it is colored by traces of chromium
and has the color and transparency of a fine emerald. Imperial jade can have a
slight hint of yellow. Nephrite jade has been located all over the earth.
Jadeite is generally very expensive, but nephrite can be found for affordable prices,
therefore most jade on today’s market is in truth a nephrite.
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Referances;
Ronzio, A.R. and Salmon,
M. (1970) Trace elements in jade. Gems and Minerals: 389: 24-25, 45.
Bradt, R.C., Newnham,
R.E., and Biggers, J.V. (1973) The toughness of jade. American Mineralogist,
vol. 58, 727-732.
Harlow, G.E. and
Sorenson, S.S. (2005) Jade (Nephrite and Jadeitite) and Serpentinite:
Metasomatic Connections. International Geology Review, 47, 113-146.
Ren Lu (2012) Color
Origin of Lavender Jadeite: An Alternative Approach. Gems & Gemology 48,
273-283.
Franz, L., Sun, T.T.,
Hänni, H.A., de Capitani, C., Thanasuthipitak, T., and Atichat, W. (2014) A
comparative study of jadeite, omphacite and kosmochlor jades from Myanmar, and
suggestions for a practical nomenclature. Journal of Gemmology, 34 (3),
210-229.
http://www.palagems.com/burma_jade.htm (with
many references)
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