Nephrite is an exceptionally tough, compact, and fibrous variety of the tremolite-actinolite series known for its durability. It often occurs as massive, botryoidal, or rounded river-worn boulders, making it a favorite for carving intricate sculptures and jewelry.
Is this nephrite jade?
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 jade with a known reference. Nephrite Jade 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 Jade leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nephrite Jade typically shows a greasy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, white, yellow, brown, black, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: fibrous.
Often confused with
Nephrite Jade vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside nephrite jade
Minerals reported to co-occur with nephrite 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
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Greasy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous
- Cleavage
- Perfect in Two Directions
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Ornamental, Jewelry, Sculpture
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Rocks
- Typical price
- $10-100 per pound for carving material, high-grade stones can range from $50-500+ per piece.
Where rockhounds find nephrite jade
7 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- China
- New Zealand
- Canada
- Russia
- United States
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic rocks country, the host setting where nephrite jade typically forms. If you start seeing serpentine, tremolite, actinolite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in California, Wyoming, Oregon. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find nephrite jade on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
