Jade (Nephrite)
“The ancient stone of kings”
Nephrite jade is a tough, dense metamorphic rock made of interlocking fibers of the amphibole minerals tremolite and actinolite. Its extraordinary toughness — greater than steel — made it invaluable for prehistoric tools and weapons before it became prized as the ultimate ornamental stone in Chinese and Māori cultures.
tremolite, actinolite, minor chlorite, chromite, magnetite
British Columbia (Canada), Hotan (China), South Island (New Zealand), Siberia (Russia), Wyoming (USA)
6-6.5
Nephrite jade is so tough that it was used to test early European steel cannons — if the cannon cracked nephrite, it was considered proof of the gun's quality.
Test Your Knowledge
Why is nephrite jade tougher than steel despite being softer on the Mohs scale?
Related Specimens
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