Global Gemstone Certification
Jade
Jade
This name is provided for two different gemstones – jadeite and nephrite. Due to being nearly identical in aesthetic qualities, it has only been recently, that a distinction was made between the two. The gemstones are discovered in a range of shades including blues, pale greens, lavender, and pinks. It is featured in a variety of Asian art as well as holding a place in other cultures. An ornamental mineral, the Jain temple in India is home to a five-foot sculpture of Mahavira made entirely from jade.
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Chemical Formula |
Nephrite: Ca2(Mg, Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2 |
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Color |
White, Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Pink, Purple, Gray, Black, Banded, Multicolored |
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Hardness |
6 – 7 |
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Crystal System |
Monoclinic |
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Refractive Index |
1.60 – 1.67 |
|
SG |
2.9 – 3.7 |
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Transparency |
Translucent to opaque |
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Double Refraction |
-0.027 (Nephrite); 0.013 (Jadeite) |
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Luster |
Waxy, vitreous |
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Cleavage |
1 or 2,2 – prismatic. Due to lack of visible crystals, cleavage is rarely observed. |
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Mineral Class |
Jadeite or Nephrite (Nephrite can be either Actinolite or Tremolite) |