What Is Nephrite Jade?

Nephrite Jade is a semi-precious gemstone known for its smooth, creamy green hues and exceptional toughness. Unlike its cousin Jadeite (the rarer, more expensive form of jade), Nephrite is more widely available and has been cherished for centuries in Chinese, Maori, and Mesoamerican cultures.

Key Characteristics:

• Color: Ranges from light green to deep spinach green, often with natural veining.

• Hardness: 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale (durable but slightly softer than Jadeite).

• Texture: Waxy, smooth luster when polished.

• Sources: Mined in Canada, Russia, New Zealand, China, and the US.

Classification by “Environment"

Mountain Material

Mountain material, also known as mountain jade and Baogai jade, refers to the primary ore produced in the mountains. Its characteristics are block-shaped bodies, different block sizes, and distinct edges and corners.

Slope Jade

Mountain material, also known as mountain jade and Baogai jade, refers to the primary ore produced in the mountains. Its characteristics are block-shaped bodies, different block sizes, distinct edges and corners, rough surface, uneven fractures, and the quality of the jade is difficult to grasp. It is the mother source of various jade materials.

Seed Makings

Seed makings are formed in gravel deposits in rivers. Due to the influence of geological structure, weathering and transportation, the original soft jade ore is broken and disintegrated, and is moved by water, glaciers and wind energy. After being selected by nature's "survival of the fittest", they are often high-quality jade materials, and the famous mutton-fat jade belongs to this category. Because it is soaked in river water all year round, the pressure of the water flow makes the texture of the seed material more compact, and the appearance is warm and greasy, forming its unique oily feeling. After sedimentation over time and the pressure of water flow, it sometimes forms skins of various colors. Some red and yellow skins are very beautiful, and because of these skin colors, its price is greatly increased. Seed material is generally in the shape of smooth pebbles with small blocks

Gobi Material

Gobi material is mainly produced on the Shaomo Gobi. It is formed by the weathering and collapse of the original ore and long-term exposure to the surface, and is affected by wind, sand and rain for a long time. Gobi material is usually more common in flakes, and there are surface weathering pits left after the impact of sand and stone.

Classification by "Color"

Soft jade is commonly found in white, grayish white, green, dark green, yellow, black and other colors. Most of them are opaque, and some are translucent with glass luster. According to the different colors, it can be divided into: white jade, green jade, blue-white jade, jasper, yellow jade, black jade, sugar jade, flower jade, etc.

White Jade

White jade refers to soft jade from white to grayish white, containing more than 95% tremolite. It is a high-grade jade among Hetian jade, and the block size is generally not large. The famous white jade is the best among white jades (containing 99% tremolite). It is pure and delicate in texture, white and smooth like condensed fat, with a touch of warm and restrained luster. However, natural resources are very scarce and only produced in Xinjiang. According to the color difference of white jade, it can be further divided into pear blossom white, snowflake white, ivory white, fish belly white, brown rice white, chicken bone white, etc.

Green Jade

Green Jade is one of the common varieties of soft jade. It has many colors. According to its depth, it can be divided into light green, dark green, green green, gray green, dark gray green, etc. Recently, there is a new variety called emerald green jade on the market. It has a fine texture. It has the subtlety of white jade and the freshness of emerald green. Its green color is attached to the white background, like the tender buds on the branches in spring, giving people a feeling of vitality and vigor.

Light Greenish White Jade

It refers to white jade between white jade and emerald green, with a grayish white or light grayish green hue. It is neither white nor green, and the main body is usually still white.

Dark Green Jade

Dark Green Jade is produced in the Junggar Jade Mine, also known as Tianshan Jade. It contains more than 85% tremolite, has a fine texture, is translucent, and has an oily luster. It is a mid-range jade. The most notable feature is the color of gray-green, dark green, and dark green, with pure dark green being the best. Jade with black spots, black dots, or jade veins is of poor quality.

Yellow Jade

The base of yellow jade is white jade, and the color ranges from light yellow to dark yellow. It is a rare variety of soft jade due to the long-term infiltration of iron oxide in surface water into the cracks, forming a yellow hue. According to the chromaticity changes, it is named: dense wax yellow, millet yellow, okra yellow, yellow flower yellow, egg yolk, etc. The dense wax yellow and okra yellow with strong chromaticity are extremely rare, and their value can be equal to mutton-fat white jade.

Dark/Black Jade

Due to the presence of graphite and magnetite in tremolite, it has a black hue. Dark jade is mostly grayish white or grayish black, with black spots in the jade. It is named according to its shape, such as black cloud flakes, light ink light, golden mink whiskers, and beauty hair. Pure black is the best color. Full black is "black as pure lacquer" and is considered the best quality. It is more valuable than other dark jade varieties, but it is very rare.

Sugar Jade

Due to the penetration of iron oxide into tremolite, it forms a red skin of different shades, ranging from yellowish brown to reddish brown. Because the color is just like brown sugar, people in the industry call it brown sugar color.

Jade with Natural Patterns

Jade with Natural Patterns refers to a piece of jade with multiple colors and proper distribution, forming a "pattern" with a certain shape, such as spotted jade, tiger skin jade, leopard skin jade, etc.

Classification by "Origin"

There are many origins of soft jade, and the quality of soft jade from different origins is also significantly different due to different causes. Therefore, the market has the situation of classifying soft jade according to its origin.

Xinjiang Hetian Jade

The delicate, warm and dignified Hetian jade has always been the quality that people pursue. Hetian jade is mainly distributed in the deep Kunlun Mountains south of the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang. There are many primary deposits and mineral points of soft jade in the mountains at an altitude of 3,500 to 5,000 meters. The main mineral components of Xinjiang Hetian jade are tremolite, with trace amounts of actinolite, diopside, serpentine, chlorite and zoisite. Hetian jade not only has a long history, but also has rich colors and a full range of varieties. There are mountain materials, mountain stream materials, baby materials and Gobi materials. The quality is the best and it belongs to the top grade of soft jade.

Qinghai Jade

In the 1990s, a new jade deposit was discovered in the Tora Sea Trough near the Sanchakou of Kunlun Mountain in Golmud, Qinghai. The mining conditions were good and it was subsequently developed and utilized. Qinghai jade has rich colors. In addition to white, there are also blue, green, yellow, purple, etc., generally with gray tones; in terms of transparency, Qinghai jade is generally higher than Xinjiang Hetian jade; in terms of gloss, Qinghai jade lacks the unique oily gloss and warm and dignified feeling of Hetian jade, so it appears lighter.

Qinghai nephrite is mainly mountain material, and its main mineral component is tremolite, but its content is lower than that of Xinjiang Hetian jade. In addition, it generally contains calcite, diopside, wollastonite, dolomite, etc., among which wollastonite is not found in Xinjiang Hetian jade. From the structural point of view, Qinghai nephrite and Xinjiang Hetian jade have basically the same structure, mainly with fiber interwoven structure, but the mineral particles of Qinghai jade are obviously coarser than Xinjiang Hetian jade, which is also one of the important reasons for the obvious difference in appearance characteristics between the two.

Russian nephrite (Russian Jade)

Russian nephrite has many origins, but the Russian nephrite on the market is mainly produced in Daksim and Baghdalin areas. Its colors are mainly white, yellow, brown, red, cyan, etc., and often multiple colors are distributed on the same piece of soft jade.

The main mineral of Russian soft jade is tremolite, and the secondary minerals are dolomite, quartz, apatite, chlorite, talc, ferrite, etc. Russian soft jade is mainly mountain material, and its mineral particles are slightly coarse, similar to Qinghai soft jade. Therefore, its appearance is not fine enough, with a slight porcelain feature, and its toughness is lower than that of Xinjiang Hetian jade.

Xiuyan Jade

It is mainly distributed on the top of the Xiyugougoutou Mountain in Xiuyan County, Liaoning. Xiuyan jade has various colors, mainly white, yellow-white, green and black, as well as a large number of transition colors between the above colors. Its composition is mainly composed of microcrystalline tremolite, containing a small amount of calcite, apatite, chlorite, serpentine, chlorite, talc, graphite and other impurities. The grains of Xiuyan jade are coarse, and the fineness and moistness are far inferior to Xinjiang Hetian jade.

Taiwan Jade

Taiwan Jade is also called Fengtian Jade. It is mainly distributed in the jadeite belt in Fengtian area of Hualien County. Its color is mainly yellow-green. Its main mineral component is tremolite, with a small amount of impurities such as ferroxene, serpentine, calcite, chromium spinel, and brass. It can generally be divided into three types: ordinary jadeite, cat's eye jade, and sleek jade. Among them, cat's eye jade with a special cat's eye effect is the most popular.

Symbol of jade

Whether it is soft jade or hard jade, their colors are very bright, so they have the reputation of "king of stones". Jade is also the gemstone for the 12th wedding anniversary.
Religious meaning: Jade was considered a divine object in ancient times, a stone from heaven, with the spirituality of communicating with heaven, earth, ghosts and gods. Since ancient times, people have used jade as a ritual vessel and it occupies a primary position in sacrifices.

Jade also represents wealth, power and status, and is a symbol of supreme imperial power.
Jade, on the spiritual level, symbolizes virtue and steadfast character, and becomes the embodiment and representative of a gentleman. It is a pure thing, so there are expressions such as "Jade in the forest", "Jade trees in the wind", "warm and moist as jade", "clean as jade", "rather broken into pieces than intact as tiles", etc. Through the concept of jade that people generally recognize and admire, it aptly expresses the culture of beautiful jade and virtue, and becomes the most beautiful kind of praise.

Effects and functions of jade

Cultivate temperament

Since ancient times, jade has symbolized noble purity, elegance and luxury, and happiness. It can also cultivate people's sentiments, cultivate their character, and improve their character, cultivation and temperament. Jade is a lucky object. Long-term wearing will infect the breath of jade, and the wearer will slowly be infected by the characteristics of jade - warm and moist like jade.

Exorcism of misfortunes and evil spirits

Jade has been a lucky object since ancient times. People believe that jade has spirituality and can be worn as a talisman to prevent misfortunes from happening. It also helps to dissolve negative energy, enabling people to overcome negative emotions such as frustration, sadness, and depression, face various situations calmly, and be able to deal with them calmly and properly.

Regulate body functions

As the saying goes, "people nourish jade, and jade nourishes people". Wearing jade for a long time can nourish the jade stone, making it more warm and spiritual. In turn, the jade stone can also nourish people. From a scientific point of view, since jade contains trace elements such as zinc, magnesium, copper, selenium, chromium, manganese, and cobalt that are beneficial to the human body, wearing it regularly can allow the trace elements to be absorbed by the human skin, which helps promote metabolism, thereby enhancing the body's immunity and achieving coordination and balance of the physiological functions of various organs in the human body.

Peace of mind

Jade is also a spiritual sustenance for people. It can bring peace of mind to the wearer and has the effect of calming the mind. At the same time, it can also make the heart peaceful and calm, thereby emitting a quiet and harmonious aura energy.

Clear thinking and open wisdom

It is said that the unique magnetic field of jade helps people to be clear-headed and comfortable. When the reaction and concentration are good, it can open wisdom and bring creative inspiration. It is very suitable for intellectual workers and literary and artistic creators.

Quality factors of soft jade

Color

Color is very important for the evaluation of soft jade quality. Usually the color is required to be uniform, pure, and without mixed colors. The color of soft jade is very rich and varied, among which white is the best color and its value is also the highest. However, even if it is white jade, it depends on the degree and purity of white. If there is a hint of green or gray in white, it will affect the value of the jade. Generally speaking, under the same or similar texture, white jade is more valuable, followed by yellow jade, while green jade and blue-white jade are less valuable.

When soft jade is observed under different light sources, it will have different tones, and soft jade of different colors will also show different under the same light. Therefore, generally speaking, jade should be appreciated under natural light.

Texture

The texture of soft jade is the primary factor in its quality evaluation. The quality of texture is mainly composed of factors such as structure, transparency, inclusions, defects, and cracks. Good quality soft jade requires a delicate and warm texture, pure and flawless. After polishing, soft jade jewelry should have a moist feeling. On the contrary, when the texture of soft jade is rough and the appearance is not delicate and warm, it is inferior jade. Generally speaking, the quality of soft jade is usually judged by "pit, shape, skin, and properties" in the jade industry. For details, see the following explanation:

(1) Pit - Origin

"Pit" refers to the specific origin of soft jade. Due to the difference in the specific origin (pit mouth), the quality of soft jade varies and its appearance characteristics are also different. For example, seed material is in the river, mountain material is on the mountain and is often blasted with explosives. Old pits are the jades of relatively high quality mined by ancient people. Generally, the quality of new pits is not as good as that of old pits, but there are exceptions. Currently, there are several new pits that produce Hetian jade of very good quality. People later got used to using the origin, that is, pit, as a synonym for the quality of jade. In the jargon, "good pit" means that the quality of soft jade is good.

(2) Shape - Appearance

Due to the different types of occurrence of soft jade, the appearance of the soft jade produced by them is different. For example, mountain materials are produced in primary mines and have not been transported and rounded by nature, so they are usually angular; mountain stream materials have lost their angularity due to wind and rain or sand and stone erosion and wear, and the surface is relatively smooth; seed materials are washed into the riverbed by mountains and rivers, so they have a certain degree of weathering and transportation, and their roundness is better, often pebble-like, and are usually high-quality and smooth jade materials.

(3) Skin - Surface Feature

This feature reflects the quality of soft jade. Good quality jade should have "skin like jade". Good skin means good quality jade inside; poor skin means poor quality jade inside.

(4) Properties - Internal Structure

The structure of soft jade refers to the particle size, crystal shape, and arrangement and combination of the tiny mineral crystals inside. The finer the structure of high-quality soft jade, the finer the texture of the jade, and the softer it feels to the touch. The better the quality of the soft jade, the better the jade quality and the lower the stone quality. This is determined by the tremolite content. The higher the tremolite content, the better the oiliness. For example, the famous mutton-fat white jade is one of the best white jades, and the tremolite content is as high as 99%.

Luster

The lustre of soft jade ranges from waxy to greasy. The stronger the greasy lustre, the better. Mutton-fat jade is the highest quality soft jade because of its strong oily luster and oily and moist appearance.

Cut

As the saying goes, "jade cannot be made into a useful object without being carved", if a piece of good soft jade is not cut or carved well, its value will basically be reduced, so the cut is very important for the finished product. Artificial carving can remove the flaws on the soft jade by drilling, digging, buckling, covering, and shielding, which will play a vital role in the display of the finished product.