Everything about Nephrite totally explained
Nephrite is a variety of the calcium and magnesium rich
amphibole mineral
actinolite (aggregates of which also make up one form of
asbestos). The chemical formula for nephrite is
Ca2(
Mg,
Fe)
5Si8O22(O
H)
2. It is one of two different mineral species called
jade. The other mineral species known as jade is
Jadeite, which is a variety of
pyroxene. While Nephrite jade possess mainly grays and greens (and occasionally yellows, browns or whites), Jadeite jade, which is rarer, can also contain blacks, reds, pinks and violets. Nephrite jade is an
ornamental stone, used in
carvings,
beads, or
cabochon cut gemstones.
The name
nephrite is derived from
lapis nephriticus, which means 'kidney stone' and is the Latin version of the Spanish
piedra de ijada. Accordingly, nephrite jade was once believed to be a cure for kidney stones.
Nephrite can be found in a translucent white to very light yellow form which is known in China as
mutton fat jade,
in an opaque white to very light brown or gray which is known as
chicken bone jade,
as well as in a variety of green colours.
Canada is the principal source of modern
lapidary nephrite. Nephrite jade was used mostly in pre-1800
China as well as in
New Zealand, the Pacific Coast and Atlantic Coasts of North America, Neolithic Europe, and southeast Asia.
History
Prehistoric and Historic China
During
Neolithic times, the key known sources of nephrite jade in China for utilitarian and ceremonial jade items were the now depleted deposits in the
Ningshao area in the
Yangtze River Delta (
Liangzhu culture 3400–
2250 BC) and in an area of the
Liaoning province in
Inner Mongolia (
Hongshan culture 4700–
2200 BC). Jade was used to create many utilitarian and ceremonial objects, ranging from indoor decorative items to
jade burial suits. Jade was considered the "imperial gem". From about the earliest
Chinese dynasties until present, the jade deposits in most use were from the region of
Khotan in the Western Chinese province of
Xinjiang (jade deposits from other areas of China, such as
Lantian,
Shaanxi, were also in great demand). There, white and greenish nephrite jade is found in small quarries and as pebbles and boulders in the rivers flowing from the
Kuen-Lun mountain range northward into the
Takla-Makan desert area. River jade collection was concentrated in the
Yarkand, the White Jade River|White Jade (
Yurungkash) and Black Jade (
Karakash) Rivers. From the
Kingdom of Khotan, on the southern leg of the
Silk Road, yearly tribute payments consisting of the most precious white jade were made to the
Chinese Imperial court and there transformed into
objets d'art by skilled artisans as jade was considered more valuable than
gold or
silver.
Māori
Nephrite jade in
New Zealand is known as
pounamu in the
Māori language, and is highly valued, playing an important role in
Māori culture. It is considered a
taonga, or treasure, and therefore protected under the
Treaty of Waitangi, and the exploitation of it's restricted and closely monitored. The
South Island of New Zealand is
Te Wai Pounamu in
Māori - "The [landof] Greenstone Water" - because that's where it was found.
Weapons and ornaments were made of it; in particular the '
mere' (short club), and the
Hei-tiki (neck pendant). These were believed to have their own
mana, handed down as valuable heirlooms, and often given as gifts to seal important agreements. With no metal tools, it was also used for a range of tools such as
adzes.
In
New Zealand English the normal term is "
greenstone" and
jewellery of it in Māori designs is widely popular with locals of all races, and with tourists - although much of the jade itself is now imported from
British Columbia and elsewhere.
Other names
Besides the terms already mentioned, nephrite has the following synonyms and varieties:
aotea,
axe-stone,
B.C. jade,
beilstein,,
kidney stone,
lapis nephriticus,
nephrit,
nephrita,
New Zealand greenstone,
,
(dark grayish green),
and
talcum nephriticus.
Tomb jade or
grave jade are names given to ancient burial nephrite pieces that have a brown or chalky white texture as a surface treatment.
[Further Information]
Get more info on 'Nephrite'.
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