Nephrite Jade, information about the stone and Jewellery

Jade & Nephrite Jade.

There are two types of Jade: their geological names are Jadeite and Nephrite. Nephrite is also call Greenstone (what the stone is called in New Zealand).

Jadeite is a silicate of sodium and aluminium. Nephrite is a silicate of calcium and magnesium.

Nephrite is richer green colour with inclusions, and other variations of green. It can be nearly any shade of green. Jadeite is a rarer mineral, it is usually a lighter more "pure" green colour.

The name has derived from “lapius nephriticus” which basically means “kidney stone” as it was once believed to be a cure for kidney stones.

It has made many used of the past 5000 years... Earlier on this stone was used to make knives, hammers, spears and axes because of its toughness. In China the stone (Jade) was thought of as “The stone of heaven”. It has been an integral part of their religion and cultural traditions.

It is a fibrous amphibole mineral (put simply slender dark crystals). The gemstone’s robustness along with its beautiful look, makes it one of the most popular and widely used gemstones throughout the world, according to Googles seach results it is one of the most typed in gemstones.

An Excellent website that has much information about Jade in Australia with lots of excellent pictures.

Here is a nice website that has the Jade cut in Maori designs

Click here to see some fantastic pictures in a video format.

For some Quality Sterling Silver Jewellery With this Stone Amazing Stone as the Centrepeice Click here

For the Spiritual properties of Jade Click here

Here is a great website explaining what is required to mine the jade - Their mine is in Alaska and because of the weather conditions are only able to mine it 60 days out of the year.

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