Big Sur Jade is a high-quality nephrite variety known for its exceptional polish and diverse color range, including rare blue-green hues. It is typically found as water-worn boulders and pebbles along the coastline of Monterey County, California, making it a prized find for beachcombers and lapidaries.

Hardness

6-6.5

Mohs

Luster

Waxy

Streak

White

Transparency

Translucent

mineraluncommonNephrite family

Big Sur Jade

Hardness: 6-6.5
Luster: Waxy
Streak: White
Transparency: Translucent

Is this big sur jade?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch big sur jade with a known reference. Big Sur Jade sits at Mohs 6-6.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: waxy.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: green, blue-green, olive, black, white.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive.

Often confused with

Big Sur Jade vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy on Big Sur Jade and vitreous on Idocrase.

How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy on Big Sur Jade and vitreous to waxy on Chrysoprase.

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Often found alongside big sur jade

Minerals reported to co-occur with big sur jade. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Ca₂(Mg,Fe)₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Mohs hardness: 6-6.5
Density: 2.9-3.0 g/cm³
Colors: Green Blue-greenOliveBlack White
Streak: White
Luster: Waxy
Transparency: Translucent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Massive
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Uncommon
Uses: Lapidary, Collector, Decorative
Host rock: metamorphic serpentinite complexes

Where rockhounds find big sur jade

Classic worldwide localities

Big Sur
Monterey County
California

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: metamorphic serpentinite complexes. If you start seeing serpentine, actinolite, chlorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify big sur jade?+

Mohs hardness is 6-6.5. Luster: waxy. The streak is white. Common colors include green, blue-green, olive, black.

Where is big sur jade found?+

Notable localities include Big Sur; Monterey County; California.

What rocks look like big sur jade?+

Big Sur Jade is most often confused with Serpentinite, Idocrase, Chrysoprase. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with big sur jade?+

Big Sur Jade commonly co-occurs with Serpentine, Actinolite, Chlorite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does big sur jade form in?+

Where it forms: metamorphic serpentinite complexes. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is big sur jade used for?+

Big Sur Jade is used in lapidary, collector, decorative.

Find big sur jade on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.