Sodium aluminum pyroxene and one of the two minerals called jade the other being nephrite . Prized in Chinese culture. Color: Green, white, lavender, yellow, black. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Streak: White. Cleavage: Good in two directions at 87°. Hardness: 6.5-7. Transparency: Translucent to opaque. Crystal system: Monoclinic. Chemical formula: NaAlSi₂O₆. Specific gravity: 3.25-3.36. Formation: Forms under high-pressure, low-temperature metamorphism in subduction zones from albite-rich rocks. Common geological settings: Myanmar highest quality , Guatemala, Japan, California; found in serpentinite-associated mélanges. Common look-alikes and related entries: Nephrite, Serpentine, Aventurine.
These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.
Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T14:37:20.387473+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
IMA–CNMNC List of Mineral Names — International Mineralogical Association. Official mineral-name, nomenclature, and classification records.
Mineral ID Key — Mineralogical Society of America. Physical-property identification methods, repeat-testing guidance, and limitations.
Sodium aluminum pyroxene and one of the two minerals called jade the other being nephrite . Prized in Chinese culture.
How can you identify Jadeite?
Compare several properties rather than relying on colour alone. This entry records colour: Green, white, lavender, yellow, black; lustre: Vitreous to greasy; streak: White; Mohs hardness: 6.5-7; cleavage: Good in two directions at 87°; crystal system: Monoclinic; transparency: Translucent to opaque. Confirm an important identification with additional field tests or qualified laboratory work.
How does Jadeite form?
Forms under high-pressure, low-temperature metamorphism in subduction zones from albite-rich rocks.
Where is Jadeite commonly found?
Myanmar highest quality , Guatemala, Japan, California; found in serpentinite-associated mélanges.
What is Jadeite commonly confused with?
Jadeite may be confused with Nephrite, Serpentine, Aventurine. Compare multiple diagnostic properties because colour and surface appearance can overlap.
JavaScript is loading the interactive GeoMiner experience. The identification tools provide educational candidates, not laboratory confirmation.
