Jadeite

Big Photo

Myanmar
8.59 carats
© Rarestone.com

Jadeite (name derived from Jade) is very tough and resistant because of its tight growth of tiny interlocking grains. It occurs in all colours. Fractures are dull, and greasy when polished.

The most prized is finest-quality semitransparent jadeite with even, vivid green color, also known as "Imperial" jadeite.

Lavender is the second most valued colour.

Deep black lustrous jadeite found in Guatemala also known as Maya Black is gaining popularity.

Jadeite Gemstones by Colour

This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
 
General Information
A variety or type of:Jade
Varieties/Types:
Other Names/Trade Names:
Chemical Formula
NaAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
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Jadeite Treatments
Commonly impregnated with wax to improve luster. Bleached in acid to remove the brownish hue: creates fine cracks. Stabilized with polymer: reflecting light, distinct luster of filled cracks. Hot point and scratch tests.
Dye concentration may be seen in small cracks (grain boundaries) resulting of bleaching and along fractures: may be discolored by acetone or diluted acid (depends on impregnation) - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 4

Bleaching to remove brown areas, which creates voids. They are filled with polymer. Bleaching weakens the structure and appearance of the stone may change over time. - GIA, 2018

Heat-treatment produces orange and reddish from material that contains iron inclusions. Heat-treatment is stable and undetectable. - GIA, 2018
Jadeite Simulants
Assembled jadeite imitations. Triplets: 3 pale, transparent jadeite pieces with green cement or gel. Plastic, glass.
Jadeite natural substitutes: maw sit sit, serpentine, chrysoprase, californite, hydrogrossular, quartzite that can be dyed from dark green to bright apple green and other colours - GIA 2018
Synthetic Jadeite
General Electric produced synthetic jadeite in a variety of green colours and lavender colour, but synthetic jadeite is not yet commercially available. - GIA 2018
Physical Properties of Jadeite
Mohs Hardness6.5 to 7
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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Specific Gravity3.28 to 3.38
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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TenacityBrittle
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Cleavage QualityNone
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
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FractureUneven
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
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Optical Properties of Jadeite
Refractive Index1.652 to 1.688
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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Optical CharacterBiaxial/+
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
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Birefringence0.012 to 0.020
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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PleochroismNil
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
DispersionNil
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Colour
Colour (General)Green, white, pink, red, orange, yellowish, brown, red-violet
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
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Colour (Chelsea Filter)No reaction. Dyed green: if present, a red reaction is diagnostic (chromium)
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Causes of Colour"Emerald" green (chrome jadeite), Cr3+ in octahedral coordination. Yellowish green, Fe3+ in octahedral coordination. Violet ("lavender jadeite"), Fe2+-O-Fe3+ charge transfer, synthetic is colored by Mn3+
W. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011)
TransparencyTranslucent,Opaque
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
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LustreGreasy,Dull
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
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Fluorescence & other light emissions
Fluorescence (General)Greenish jadeite: very weak - whitish glimmer
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Fluorescence (Long-Wave UV)Inert to whitish-greenish; bleached stones: possible bluish-white or yellow-green reaction
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Crystallography of Jadeite
Crystal SystemMonoclinic
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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HabitIntergrown, grainy aggregate
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
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Geological Environment
Where found:In high-pressure metamorphic rocks of the glaucophane facies; a component of eclogite.
Anthony et al, Handbook of mineralogy (2001)
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Further Information
Mineral information:Jadeite information at mindat.org
Significant Gem Localities
Cuba
 
  • Guantánamo Province
Garcia-Casco et al. (2009)
Guatemala
 
Japan
 
  • Niigata Prefecture
    • Itoigawa City
Chihara (1999)
      • Ōmi
Chihara (1999)
Kazakhstan
 
  • Karaganda Region
    • Aktogay District
      • Krasnyi Oktyabr'
Spiridonov (1998)
Myanmar
 
  • Kachin State
    • Mohnyin District
      • Hpakant Township (Hpakan; Phakant; Phakan)
        • Hpakant-Tawmaw Jade Tract
          • Hpakant (Hpakan; Phakant; Phakan)
Ou Yang (1999)
Ou Yang (1999)
Ou Yang (1999)
Ou Yang (1999)
Ou Yang (1999)
Ou Yang (1999)
      • Mohnyin Township (Moe Hnyin Township)
Ou Yang (1999)
  • Sagaing Region
    • Hkamti District
      • Hkamti Township (Khamti Township)
        • Nansibon mining district
Ou Yang (1999)
Ou Yang (1999)
Russia
 
  • Krasnoyarsk Krai
    • Western Sayan range
Spiridonov (1998)
  • Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug
    • Priuralsky District
      • Kharp
Yushkin (1996)
Turkey
 
  • Bursa Province
Okay (2002)
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