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Jade · Variety of Jade

Jadeite

Sodium aluminum pyroxene jade

Green Purple White
Optical properties

Optical characteristics

Ref. index
1.654 – 1.667
Luster
Vitreous to waxy
Pleochroism
Variable Variable depending on transparency, orientation, and variety.
Fluorescence
Variable to inert.
Origins

Source localities

Myanmar Myanmar: Hpakan / Kachin
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The world's most important jadeite deposit; Hpakan boulders are the benchmark for imperial green jadeite.

58.3% est. supply
Japan Japan: Itoigawa jade area
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Classic Japanese jadeite source.

20.9% est. supply
Guatemala Guatemala: Sierra de las Minas
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Important source for jadeite.

20.8% est. supply
Treatments

Enhancement & treatment

Color Enhancement Dyeing Dyeing artificially improves color in porous or fractured materials. Durability varies and disclosure is… Impregnation Polymer Impregnation, Jadeite Acid bleaching followed by polymer impregnation improves transparency and color appearance but greatly reduces… Surface Enhancement Waxing Waxing is a common minor surface enhancement. In jade it is often accepted when… Color Enhancement Bleaching Bleaching removes unwanted color or stains. Acceptance depends on gem type, extent, and market…
Inclusions

Inclusions & features

Crystals Crystal Inclusions Under 10x loupe: solid, well-formed mineral crystals trapped inside the host gem. They may… Fractures Feathers and Fractures Under 10x loupe: irregular internal surfaces that catch light and appear bright, wing-like, or… Fractures Fingerprint Inclusions Under 10x loupe: curved or wavy lines of tiny dots forming patterns that look… Clouds Pinpoint Clouds Under 10x loupe: concentrations of extremely tiny bright dots that individually are too small… Multiphase Two-Phase Inclusions Under 10x loupe: a transparent irregular cavity containing both a liquid phase and a…
Identification

Instruments used

Dichroscope Reveals pleochroism, instantly eliminates singly-refractive stones Hydrostatic Scale Measures specific gravity, works even on opaque stones Immersion Microscope See every internal detail clearly, the professional standard 10x Loupe Your most-used instrument, start every examination here Polariscope Determines single vs. double refraction, quick and conclusive Refractometer Measures refractive index, the backbone of gem identification UV Lamp, Long Wave and Short Wave Fluorescence exposes treatments, synthetics, and origin