Glittering Stones >> Semi
Precious Stones >> Jade
Semi Precious Stone Jade
An ornamental stone, jade is a name which is applied
to two different silicate minerals. Nephrite is a form of the amphibole
actinolite (a mineral that also includes a form of asbestos). The second,
the mineral jadeite, is the pyroxene. Nephrite
has the formula Ca2 (Mg, Fe) 5Si8O22 (OH) 2. Jadeite has a formula NaAlSi2O6.
The two are quite similar in appearance and normally it wasn't until 1863
that the two forms of this gemstone were distinguished.
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Historical Facts of Jade
| Refractive Index |
1.654 - 1.667 |
| Chemical Composition |
NaAl(SiO3)2 |
| Hardness |
7 |
| Density |
3.32 |
| Crystal Group |
Monoclinic |
| Varieties |
Jadeite, Nephrite |
| Color |
Pure white thru pink, brown, red, orange, yellow, mauve, violet, blue, black, green, mottled green and white |
| Ocurrence |
Northern Myanmar, China, Russia, Niigata, Japan; San Benito County, California, USA, and Guatemala |
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Gem Jewelry Jade
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