Nephrite

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Nephrite
Nephrite jordanow slaski.jpg
Nephrite from Jordanów Śląski (Poland)
General
Category Inosilicate
Formula
(repeating unit)
Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2 [1]
Crystal system monoclinic [1]
Identification
Color Translucent to opaque and often mottled. Light to dark green, yellow to brown, white, gray, black. [1]
Crystal habit massive [1]
Fracture splintery to granular [1]
Mohs scale hardness6.0 to 6.5 [1]
Luster dull [1]
Specific gravity 2.95+0.15
−0.05
[1]
Polish lustervitreous to greasy [1]
Optical propertiesDouble refractive with anomalous aggregate reaction [1]
Refractive index 1.606 to 1.632+0.009
−0.006
[1]
Birefringence usually not detectable [1]
Pleochroism none [1]
Ultraviolet fluorescence inert [1]
Absorption spectra Vague line may be present at 500 nm, but rarely any lines. Rarely, in stones of exceptional gem quality, vague lines in the red part of the spectrum may be seen. [1]

Nephrite is a variety of the calcium, magnesium, and iron-rich amphibole minerals tremolite or actinolite (aggregates of which also make up one form of asbestos). The chemical formula for nephrite is Ca 2(Mg, Fe)5 Si 8 O 22(OH)2. [1] 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 possesses mainly grays and greens (and occasionally yellows, browns, black 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. Nephrite is also the official state mineral of Wyoming.

Contents

Nephrite can be found in a translucent white to very light yellow form which is known in China as mutton fat jade, [1] in an opaque white to very light brown or gray which is known as chicken bone jade, [1] as well as in a variety of green colors. Western Canada is the principal source of modern lapidary nephrite. [2] 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.

Name

The name nephrite is derived from the Latin lapis nephriticus, which in turn is derived from the Ancient Greek λίθος νεφριτικός (líthos nephritikós) or νεφρός λίθος (nephrós líthos), which means "kidney stone" and is the Latin and Greek version of the Spanish piedra de ijada (the origin of jade and jadeite). [3] Accordingly, nephrite jade was once believed to be a cure for kidney stones.[ citation needed ]

Other names

Besides the terms already mentioned, nephrite has the following synonyms and varieties: axe-stone, B.C. jade, beilstein, kidney stone, lapis nephriticus, nephrit, nephrita, pounamu , New Zealand greenstone, [1] New Zealand jade, [1] spinach jade (dark grayish green), [1] 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. [1]

History

Neolithic and Chalcolithic Europe

A lot of nephrite tools and amulets are known since the Early Neolithic (7th millennium BC) to the Late Chalcolithic (5th millennium BC) on the Balkans (mainly Bulgaria; also in Greece, Serbia, Croatia) from two or more unknown sources — Balkan "nephrite culture." Such tools are found in the Later Neolithic of Poland (from the most probable local source Jordanów), Sardinia (Italy) (unknown source) and Switzerland (Kostov, 2005; 2013). Single or just a few finds of nephrite artifacts are also reported from some other European countries.

Prehistoric and historic China

'Mutton fat' jade for sale at Khotan Jade Market.jpg
"Mutton fat" jade for sale at Hotan Jade Market
Large mutton fat jade displayed in Hotan Cultural Museum lobby.jpg
Large "mutton fat" nephrite jade displayed in Hotan Cultural Museum lobby.

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, and the White Jade (Yurungkash) and Black Jade (Karakash) Rivers in Khotan. 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.

Prehistoric Taiwan and Southeast Asia

Carved nephrite jade was the main commodity trade during the historical Maritime Jade Road, an extensive trading network connecting multiple areas in Southeast and East Asia. The nephrite jade was mined in east Taiwan by animist Taiwanese indigenous peoples and processed mostly in the Philippines by animist indigenous Filipinos. Some were also processed in Vietnam, while the peoples of Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia also participated in the massive animist-led nephrite jade trading network, where other commodities were also traded. Participants in the network at the time had a majority animist population. The maritime road is one of the most extensive sea-based trade networks of a single geological material in the prehistoric world. It was in existence for at least 3,000 years, where its peak production was from 2000 BCE to 500 CE, older than the Silk Road in mainland Eurasia. It began to wane during its final centuries from 500 CE until 1000 CE. The entire period of the network was a golden age for the diverse animist societies of the region. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Māori

Nephrite from Wyoming Amphibole 2 - Nephrite Jade Basic calcium magnesium iron silicate Lander County Wyoming 2075.jpg
Nephrite from Wyoming

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. The exploitation of it is restricted to Ngāi Tahu [8] and closely monitored. The South Island of New Zealand is Te Wai Pounamu in Māori — 'The [land of] Greenstone Water' — because that is where it occurs.

Weapons and ornaments are made of it; in particular the mere (short club) and the hei-tiki (neck pendant). These are believed to have their own mana (prestige), are handed down as valuable heirlooms, and often given as gifts to seal important agreements. It has also been used for a range of tools such as adzes and was used to make nails used in construction, as Māori had no metal before European contact.

Commonly called "greenstone," jade jewellery in Māori designs is widely popular with tourists. Stone is often imported from Canada, China and Siberia, and Ngāi Tahu runs a pounamu certification scheme to verify the authenticity of New Zealand stone.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Coast Region</span> Region of New Zealand

The West Coast is a region of New Zealand on the west coast of the South Island that is administered by the West Coast Regional Council, and is known co-officially as Te Tai Poutini. It comprises the territorial authorities of Buller District, Grey District and Westland District. The principal towns are Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika. The region, one of the more remote areas of the country, is also the most sparsely populated. With a population of just 32,900 people, the West Coast is the least populous region in New Zealand. The population in the region grew by 0.4% over the year to July 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Actinolite</span> Mineral

Actinolite is an amphibole silicate mineral with the chemical formula Ca2(Mg4.5–2.5Fe2+0.5–2.5)Si8O22(OH)2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jade</span> Ornamental stone, commonly green

Jade is an umbrella term for two different types of ornamental rocks used as jewelry, in jewelry or for ornaments. Jade is often referred to by either of two different silicate mineral names: nephrite, or jadeite. Nephrite is typically green, although may be yellow, white or black. Jadeite varies from white or near-colorless, through various shades of green, to lavender, yellow, orange, brown and black. Rarely it may be blue. However these names are mineralogically incorrect. Both the amphibole jade (nephrite) and pyroxene jade are actually mineral aggregates (rocks) rather than mineral species and thus should not be described by mineral species names. Nephrite was depreciated by the International Mineralogical Association as a mineral species name in 1978. This makes the name "nephrite" mineralogically correct for referring to the rock. As for jadeite, since this is a legitimate mineral species, its name should not be used for the pyroxene jade rock. In China, the name jadeite has been replaced with fei cui, the traditional Chinese name for this gem that was in use long before Damour created the name in 1863.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hei-tiki</span> Ornamental pendant of the Māori of New Zealand

The hei-tiki is an ornamental pendant of the Māori of New Zealand. Hei-tiki are usually made of pounamu (greenstone), and are considered a taonga (treasure) by Māori. They are commonly called tiki by New Zealanders, a term that originally refers to the first mortal.

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The mere is a type of short, broad-bladed weapon in the shape of an enlarged tear drop. It was used to strike/jab an opponent in the body or the head, usually made from nephrite jade. A mere is one of the traditional, hand to hand, one-handed weapons of the indigenous Māori of New Zealand, and a symbol of chieftainship.

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Bowenite is a hard, compact variety of the serpentinite species antigorite, (Mg3(OH)O4Si2O5). Classed as semi-precious gemstone it has been used for tools, weapons and jewellery by the Māori in New Zealand, and for jewellery by Fabergé. Deposits are found in several places around the world including Afghanistan, China, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. It typically ranges in colour from dark green to light olive green, and in shades approaching yellow. Bowenite was named by James D. Dana in 1850 after George T. Bowen, who analyzed it in 1822.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Gem Reference Guide. Gemological Institute of America. 1988. ISBN   0-87311-019-6.
  2. Kirk Makepeace, George J. Simandl, Jade (Nephrite) in British Columbia, Canada Archived 2016-10-31 at the Wayback Machine ; in G.J. Simandl, W.J. McMillan and N.D. Robinson, (editors), 37th Annual Forum on Industrial Minerals Proceedings, Industrial Minerals with emphasis on Western North America, Paper 2004-2-57, pages 287–288 (2004). Accessed October 30, 2016
  3. Easby, Elizabeth Kennedy (1968). Pre-Columbian Jade from Costa Rica. New York: André Emmerich Inc.
  4. Tsang, Cheng-hwa (2000), "Recent advances in the Iron Age archaeology of Taiwan", Bulletin of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association, 20: 153–158, doi:10.7152/bippa.v20i0.11751
  5. Turton, M. (2021). Notes from central Taiwan: Our brother to the south. Taiwan’s relations with the Philippines date back millenia, so it’s a mystery that it’s not the jewel in the crown of the New Southbound Policy. Taiwan Times.
  6. Everington, K. (2017). Birthplace of Austronesians is Taiwan, capital was Taitung: Scholar. Taiwan News.
  7. Bellwood, P., H. Hung, H., Lizuka, Y. (2011). Taiwan Jade in the Philippines: 3,000 Years of Trade and Long-distance Interaction. Semantic Scholar.
  8. "Pounamu - Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu".

Further reading