metamorphic
Burmese Jadeite (Water Jade)
Jadeite (NaAlSi2O6)
Hardness: 6.5–7.0 (Mohs scale); Color: Mottle pale green and white (Oily luster); Crystal structure: Monoclinic (fine-grained fibrous aggregate); Cleavage: None visible in polished form; Specific Gravity: 3.25–3.35
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Mottle pale green and white (Oily luster)
Identified More metamorphic →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5–7.0 (Mohs scale); Color: Mottle pale green and white (Oily luster); Crystal structure: Monoclinic (fine-grained fibrous aggregate); Cleavage: None visible in polished form; Specific Gravity: 3.25–3.35
Formation & geological history
Formed at high pressure and low temperature conditions during subduction in metamorphic belts. Commonly found as water-worn boulders in alluvial deposits. Primary deposits are found in the Tawmaw serpentinite belt of northern Myanmar.
Uses & applications
High-end jewelry, status symbols, traditional carvings, and significant investment collections in East Asian markets.
Geological facts
Jadeite is the rarer and more valuable of the two 'jades' (the other being nephrite). It is exceptionally tough due to its interlocking fibrous structure, making it harder to break than many minerals with higher brittle hardness.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its 'cool' touch, high density (feels heavy for its size), and characteristic 'orange peel' texture on the surface under magnification. Commonly found in Myanmar, Guatemala, and Japan.
More like this
