Jadeite

Jadeite
Chemical composition	NaAl(SiO3)2
Crystal system	Monoclinic
Habit	Polycrystalline
Fracture	Flintery
Hardness	6.5 -7
Specific gravity	3.30 - 3.37
Lustre	Greasy to vitreous

Jadeite is made up of interlocking pyroxene crystals. It occurs in a vary wide range of colors like green, lilac, white, pink, brown, red, blue, black, orange and yellow. The most prized color is a rich emerald green and is called Imperial Jade. Its green color is due to its chromium content and can be distinguished with a Chelsea (jadeite) filter. Jadeite is believed to prevent/cure hip and kidney ailments.

Enhancements

Common enhancements to jadeite:

• Fracture filling - wax - conceal cracks and fractures
• Coatings - wax - to improve luster
• Staining - color improvement through dyes
• Bleaching - removes stains
• Polymer impregnation - improves luster and to stabilize piece after bleaching

Occurrence

The most important source of jadeite is Myanmar but Guatemala, Japan and the USA (California) are also important sources

Sources consulted

• Smithsonian Handbooks, Gemstones, Second Edition 2002

G&G Articles on Jade 1934-1980

The GIA has published all the G&G's from 1934 until 1980 online. The organization of the list by subject was done by Joseph Gill.

• March-April 1934, Jadeite thought found in America (Oregon), p. 54, 1p.
• [http://www.gia.edu/research-resources/gems-gemology/back-issue-archive/May-June-1934.pdf">May-June 1934, Jade, p. 80, 3pp.</a>
• May-June 1934, Red Jade, by M. Ehrmann, p. 84, 1p.
• Fall 1944, Nephrite found in Lander, Wyo., in 1936, p. 170, 1p.
• Fall 1948, Jade Carving in China, p. 82, 5pp.
• Spring 1950, Jadeite and nephrite found in Calif., p. 289, 1p.
• Summer 1951, Jadeite and nephrite found in Calif., and artifacts, p. 76, 3pp.
• Spring 1952, Jade in Mexico, p. 147, 5pp.
• Summer 1954, The Nature of Jade, p. 38, 9pp.
• Fall 1956, Jadeite from San Benito County, Calif., p. 331, 4pp.
• Fall 1960, Jade Cutting Today, p. 81, 9pp.
• Winter 1964, "Pigeon eye" nephrite from Wyoming (shows chatoyant spots), p. 251, 2pp.
• Summer 1966, Taiwan jade (nephrite), p. 62, 1p.
• Spring 1976, Jade, China's Contribution to Fine Art, by A. Alexander, p. 145, 8pp.
• Fall 1979, Clarification of Composition of Maw Sit Sit, p. 217, 2p.
• Summer 1980, Australia Likely To Be Major Supplier of Jade, by J. Stone, p. 331, 1p.
• Summer 1943, So-called "Mexican jade" is calcite, p. 87, 1p.
• Winter 1955, Cat's-eye nephrite, p. 238, 1p.
• Spring 1958, Jadeite triplets, p. 134, 3pp.
• Winter 1961, Jadeite "Yunnan Jade" from Burma (showing absorption spectrum), p. 242, 2pp.
• Spring 1962, Rare gray-blue jadeite, p. 283, 1p.
• Winter 1963, Faded dyed jadeite, p. 100, 2pp.
• Summer 1964, Stable color in dyed jadeite, p. 181, 1p.
• Winter 1965, Dyed nephrite first seen at the GIA, p. 363, 2pp.
• Winter 1965, A new type of jadeite triplet (two pieces of jadeite, green coloring in center), p. 369, 2pp.
• Winter 1967, Dyed jadeite, p. 245, 1p.
• Summer 1969, Glass jade imitation, p. 58, 2pp.
• Winter 1970, Glass-like jade imitation, p. 249, 3pp.
• Summer 1971, Dyed lavender jadeite, p. 323, 2pp.
• Summer 1972, Jade substitute (glass), p. 44, 2pp.
• Summer 1972, Jade-like minerals, p. 50, 3pp.
• Fall 1972, Distinguishing burial jade from burned jade not yet possible, p. 83, 2pp.
• Fall 1972, Paraffin-treated jade, p. 84, 2pp.
• Fall 1972, Blue jade-like material (tremolite), p. 91, 2pp.
• Fall 1972, A cat's-eye yellow jadeite, p. 93, 1p.
• Winter 1972, Testing dyed antique replicas of jade, p. 112, 1p.
• Winter 1972, Jade cat's-eye (?), p. 113, 1p.
• Spring 1973, Jade imitations in devitrified fibrous glass (meta jade, Imori stone), p. 134, 2pp.
• Summer 1973, Durability of jadeite vs. nephrite, p. 175, 2pp.
• Fall 1973, Treated lavender jadeite, p. 214, 2pp.
• Fall 1974, Unevenly dyed jadeite, p. 350, 1p.
• Spring 1975, A "meta jade" glass with spectrum of natural jadeite, p. 27, 2pp.
• Fall 1975 Rare, nearly transparent, light gray faceted jadeite, p. 73, 2pp.