Nephrite (Jade)
Hardness
6 - 6.5
Occurrence
Alaska, Mexico, New Zealand, Siberia, and Turkestan
- Nephrite, a member of the amphibole group of minerals, is a silicate of calcium and magnesium, with a small amount of iron replacing part of the magnesium. It is a tough, compact variety of the mineral tremolite with a specific gravity 2.96 to 3.1. Polished nephrite has an oily luster.
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