Known as the “stone of heaven” in ancient China, Jade was excavated from the Kunlun Mountains of northwest China, from 5000 BC, and even today China remains an important source for this gemstone.
Just the facts:
Nephrite (Jade) is composed of silica and magnesia and its colour is determined by the amount of iron present in the mineral. A lesser iron content produces lighter colours such as white, cream, yellow, gray, green, blue, red, brown and lavender. A greater iron content produces the darker coloured Nephrite, such as darker grey and darker green.
Legend and lore:
In Russia, Jade has been mined and crafted since 3000 BC. Tsar Alexander III’s sarcophagus was carved from Jade. For about 3,000 years Jade has been highly prized by the Native Americans of British Columbia, Canada who called it “greenstone” and for centuries the New Zealand Maori have made beautiful Nephrite carvings.
