Nephrite
General Information about Nephrite
- Nephrite is a mineral that belongs to the inosilicate group.
- Its chemical formula is (Mg,Fe)(OH).
- Nephrite has a monoclinic crystal system.
- It is translucent to opaque and comes in various colors such as green, yellow, brown, white, gray, and black.
- The hardness of nephrite on the Mohs scale is 6.0 to 6.5.
Uses and Characteristics of Nephrite
- Nephrite is commonly used for carvings, beads, and cabochon cut gemstones.
- It is one of the two minerals known as jade, with the other being jadeite.
- Nephrite is mainly found in green colors but can also occur in other shades.
- Western Canada is a major source of lapidary nephrite.
- Nephrite jade has been historically used in China, New Zealand, North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
Other Names and Varieties of Nephrite
- Nephrite has various synonyms and varieties, including axe-stone, B.C. jade, beilstein, kidney stone, lapis nephriticus, nephrit, nephrita, pounamu, New Zealand greenstone, spinach jade, and talcum nephriticus.
- Tomb jade and grave jade refer to ancient burial nephrite pieces with specific textures.
- Mutton fat jade and chicken bone jade describe different colors and opacities of nephrite.
History and Cultural Significance of Nephrite
- Nephrite artifacts have been found in Neolithic and Chalcolithic cultures in Europe, particularly in Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Croatia, Poland, Sardinia, and Switzerland.
- In ancient China, nephrite was sourced from the Ningshao area and Liaoning province for utilitarian and ceremonial objects.
- Khotan in Xinjiang, China, became a significant source of nephrite, and tribute payments were made to the Chinese imperial court.
- The historical Maritime Jade Road connected Southeast and East Asia, where nephrite jade was traded extensively by animist societies.
- Nephrite jade holds cultural significance for the Māori people of New Zealand, known as pounamu, and is protected under the Treaty of Waitangi.
Nephrite in Māori Culture
- Nephrite, known as pounamu in Māori, is considered a taonga (treasure) and plays a vital role in Māori culture.
- It is used to create weapons, ornaments, and tools such as adzes.
- Māori designs of jade jewelry, commonly called greenstone, are popular with tourists.
- Ngāi Tahu, a Māori tribe, oversees the exploitation of pounamu and runs a certification scheme for New Zealand stone.
- Nephrite holds mana (prestige) and is often passed down as valuable heirlooms or given as gifts for important agreements.
Nephrite Data Sources
Reference | URL |
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Glossary | https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/nephrite |
Wikipedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephrite |
Wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138979 |
Knowledge Graph | https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/03wht5t |