Nephrite is an extremely tough, fibrous amphibole mineral traditionally prized for carvings and jewelry. It is often found as dense, massive rocks rather than individual crystals and is distinguished by its waxy luster and high tenacity.
Is this nephrite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch nephrite with a known reference. Nephrite sits at Mohs 6-6.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Nephrite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nephrite typically shows a waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, white, yellow, gray, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: fibrous mass.
Often confused with
Nephrite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy on Nephrite and vitreous to pearly on Jadeite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy on Nephrite and greasy on Serpentine.
How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy on Nephrite and vitreous on Prehnite.
Often found alongside nephrite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nephrite. 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
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Waxy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous Mass
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Decorative, Collector, Sculpture
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Rocks
- Typical price
- $10-100 for carvings, higher for quality specimens
Where rockhounds find nephrite
5 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- China
- New Zealand
- Canada
- Russia
- USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic rocks country — that is the host setting where nephrite typically forms. If you start seeing talc, serpentine, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous mass habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in California, Oregon, Wyoming — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find nephrite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
