jadeite
Sign in to saveJadeite is a pyroxene mineral with composition NaAlSi2O6. It is hard (Mohs hardness of about 6.5 to 7.0), very tough, and dense, with a specific gravity of about 3.4. It is found in a wide range of colors, but is most often found in shades of green or white. Jadeite is formed only in the subduction zones of continental margins, where rock undergoes metamorphism at high pressure but relatively low temperature.
Key facts
- Mineral.fluorescence
- Dark colors are generally inert. Light green – inert to weak white in long wave, generally inert in short wave; light yellow – inert to weak green in long wave, generally inert in short wave; white – inert to weak in long wave, generally inert in short wave; light purple – inert to weak white or weak brownish red in long wave, generally inert in short wave; some dyed lavender colors – moderate to strong orange in long wave, weaker in short wave
- Mineral.streak
- White
- Mineral.gravity
- 3.24 to 3.43
- Mineral.diaphaneity
- Translucent
- Mineral.boxbgcolor
- 9bb854
- Mineral.name
- Jadeite
- Mineral.category
- Inosilicate minerals (single chain)
- Mineral.group
- Pyroxene group, clinopyroxene subgroup
- Mineral.image
- File:Jadeite (GeoDIL number - 1607).jpg
- Mineral.caption
- Jadeite from California
- Mineral.formula
- NaAlSi2O6 or Na(Al,Fe3+)Si2O6
- Mineral.IMAsymbol
- Jd
- Mineral.strunz
- 9.DA.25
- Mineral.system
- Monoclinic
- Mineral.class
- Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol)
- Mineral.symmetry
- C2/c
- Mineral.color
- Apple-green, emerald-green, bluish green, leek-green, purplish blue, greenish white, white, black, may show green spots, rarely blue or violet; colorless in thin section. Often also banded.
- Mineral.habit
- Commonly massive, or fibrous, granular; prismatic crystals rare
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
13 sectionsContents
- Name
- Properties
- Chemistry and origin
- Colors
- Occurrence
- Synthesis
- Uses
- Jade
- Stone Age use
- See also
- References
- Sources
- External links
Jadeite is a pyroxene mineral with composition NaAlSi2O6. It is hard (Mohs hardness of about 6.5 to 7.0), very tough, and dense, with a specific gravity of about 3.4. It is found in a wide range of colors, but is most often found in shades of green or white. Jadeite is formed only in the subduction zones of continental margins, where rock undergoes metamorphism at high pressure but relatively low temperature.
Jadeite is the principal mineral making up the most valuable form of jade, a precious stone particularly prized in China. Most gem-quality jadeite jade comes from northern Myanmar. Jade tools and implements have been found at Stone Age sites, showing that the mineral has been prized by humans since before the beginning of written history.