Gemstone profile and identification guide
Jade is valued as much for texture and toughness as for colour. A fine piece has a compact, almost glowing appearance that feels different from ordinary green ornamental stone, which is one reason jade has held cultural importance for so many centuries.
Jade is valued as much for texture and toughness as for colour. A fine piece has a compact, almost glowing appearance that feels different from ordinary green ornamental stone, which is one reason jade has held cultural importance for so many centuries.
Did you know? The name jade covers two distinct materials, jadeite and nephrite, both of which can be suitable for carving and jewellery.
Use this profile as a collector reference and educational guide for quick on-page comparison, then validate with the interactive identification system.
Name: Jade
Scientific classification: Aggregate Gem Material (Jadeite and/or Nephrite)
Hardness: 6.5 Mohs
Transparency: translucent to opaque
Lustre: greasy to vitreous
Crystal system: Monoclinic (both jadeite and nephrite)
Primary colour: Green
Secondary colour: White
Colour family: Greens
Texture is a major clue. Genuine jade tends to look tightly interlocked rather than glassy, and it feels tougher in use than many lookalikes. Distinguishing jadeite from nephrite requires closer mineralogical work, but both differ from quartz-based imitations.
Status: verified-core-fields
Reference priority: GIA, Gem-A, Mindat, International Gem Society
Core identity fields reviewed against consensus gemological references (GIA/Gem-A/Mindat/IGS).
Some market- and locality-level details may still require citation-grade source notes for publication workflows.
Hardness category: medium
Hardness value: 6.5 Mohs
Chemical composition: Varies: jadeite (NaAlSi2O6) and nephrite [Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2]
Crystal system: Monoclinic (both jadeite and nephrite)
Common locations: Myanmar, Guatemala, Japan (jadeite); China (Xinjiang), Canada (British Columbia), Russia, New Zealand (nephrite)
Learn more: Gem-A gemstone education resources.
Jade sits in the greens grouping here, usually reading first as green with white appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
Optical effects: None specified in the current dataset.
Mineral species: Jadeite and/or nephrite aggregate
Mineral group: Pyroxene and amphibole jade materials
Chemical formula: Varies: jadeite (NaAlSi2O6) and nephrite [Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2]
Mohs hardness: 6.5
Crystal system: Monoclinic (both jadeite and nephrite)
Lustre: greasy to vitreous
Transparency: translucent to opaque
Streak: White
Cleavage: Generally obscured by aggregate texture
Fracture: Splintery to uneven
Specific gravity: 2.90-3.38 (species-dependent)
Refractive index: 1.60-1.68 (species-dependent)
Optical phenomena: None commonly reported
Colour range: Green, White
Common inclusions: Fibrous/granular textures, black mineral spots, and healed fractures
Geological environment: Jade occurs in High-pressure metamorphic terrains and serpentinized ultramafic environments. Its Monoclinic (both jadeite and nephrite) structure reflects the pressure-temperature conditions of those host rocks, with notable occurrences in Myanmar, Guatemala, Japan (jadeite); China (Xinjiang), Canada (British Columbia), Russia, New Zealand (nephrite).
Principal mining regions: Myanmar, Guatemala, Japan (jadeite); China (Xinjiang), Canada (British Columbia), Russia, New Zealand (nephrite)
Important commercial sources: Jade is a trade term covering jadeite and nephrite with different geological and commercial sources
Historical significance: Jade has exceptional cultural significance across East Asian and Mesoamerican traditions.
Common treatments: Bleaching, polymer impregnation, and dyeing are established trade treatments and require disclosure.
Synthetic or imitation forms: Dyed quartzite, serpentine, glass, and composite imitations are common.
Common look-alikes: topaz, moonstone, peridot
Jewellery uses: Jade is used chiefly for A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 6.5 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Care recommendations: Jade should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 6.5 in the Monoclinic (both jadeite and nephrite) system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Protect cleavage directions from sharp knocks during wear and setting.
Cross-check profile data with GIA Gem Encyclopedia and Mindat entry for Jade.
Jade is a Jadeite and/or nephrite aggregate material with chemistry Varies: jadeite (NaAlSi2O6) and nephrite [Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2]. It develops in High-pressure metamorphic terrains and serpentinized ultramafic environments, and economically significant production is associated with Myanmar, Guatemala, Japan (jadeite); China (Xinjiang), Canada (British Columbia), Russia, New Zealand (nephrite).
Jade is a trade term covering jadeite and nephrite with different geological and commercial sources
Best for: Jade is used chiefly for A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 6.5 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Ideal uses: A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.
Jade should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 6.5 in the Monoclinic (both jadeite and nephrite) system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Protect cleavage directions from sharp knocks during wear and setting.
Need another candidate? Use advanced gemstone search or return to the identification guide.
Compare hardness (6.5 Mohs), crystal system (Monoclinic (both jadeite and nephrite)), colour profile, and lustre (greasy to vitreous) with your sample. Then cross-check related gemstones listed above.
Jade sits in the greens grouping here, usually reading first as green with white appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. For maintenance, follow the care guidance in this profile.
GIA: general gemstone identity (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
Gem-A: gemological education and terminology (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
Mindat: mineral species and locality index (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
International Gem Society: collector-facing gem reference (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
