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Chemical Formula: Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2
Mineral Name: Jade
Color: Green
Hardness: 5.75
Specific Gravity: 3.0
Nephrite is a white to dark green variety of jade,
chiefly a metasilicate of iron, calcium, and
magnesium. Nephrite is a amphibole silicate but
physically it is similar to chalcedony in that they
both have a fibrous structure.Nephrite is composed of
silica and magnesia and is dependent on its color by
the amount of iron present in the mineral. Less iron
content produces lighter colors such as Whites,
creams, yellows, grays, greens, blues, reds, browns,
and lavender. More iron content produces the darker
colored nephrite, such as: Darker grays and darker
greens. Due to its fibrous alignment and grain size,
Nephrite can be very tough to work with.
Nephrite is found in the regions of China, New
Zealand, Wyoming (Wind River Range), north of the
Arctic Circle in northwestern Alaska, California,
Mexico and Southern Rhodesia.
