Jade: AS-Level Study Notes PDF
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Gemological Institute of America
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Summary
This document provides a detailed overview of jade, covering its key concepts, terms, and characteristics. It explores the cultural significance and geographic distribution of jade, as well as its various types and properties. The document also outlines key terms and concepts related to jade, suitable for students in secondary education.
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Jade KEY CONCEPTS Treasured for thousands of years, jade has great cultural Asia, the world’s largest jade market, uses Type A, B, and C significance, especia...
Jade KEY CONCEPTS Treasured for thousands of years, jade has great cultural Asia, the world’s largest jade market, uses Type A, B, and C significance, especially in Asia. designations to describe the extent of jade treatment. Jadeite’s three most important qualities are color, transparency, A jadeite boulder’s rough surface can hide its inner nature and texture. from buyers. The most valuable jadeite color is the intense green known Nephrite and jadeite are both extremely tough, but as Imperial. nephrite’s interlocking fibrous structure makes it more resistant to fracturing. In addition to green, jadeite can be lavender, red, orange, yellow, brown, white, black, or gray. The most sought-after nephrite color is white rather than green. The most valuable jadeite has color that’s evenly distributed, Glass and plastic are today’s most common jade imitations. uniform, and strong. While many are attractive, jade substitutes are neither jadeite Jadeite’s toughness is exceptional. nor nephrite, so they should not be called “jade.” China is the main polishing center for jadeite from around the world. Key Terms Hololith—Gemstone jewelry carved entirely from a single New mine—Trade term for jadeite with coarse texture. piece of rough. Old mine—Trade term for jadeite with very fine texture. Imperial—Trade name for finest-quality, semitransparent jadeite with even, vivid green coloration. River jade—Rough nephrite recovered from alluvial deposits. Mottling—An uneven distribution of color against a contrasting background. Show points —Spots of color near the surface of a jadeite Mountain jade—Rough nephrite extracted directly from boulder, where the skin is thin enough to allow color to primary deposits. show through. Mutton-fat jade—A trade name for top-quality white Window—A polished area on the surface of a jadeite nephrite. boulder that allows the buyer to see beyond the skin. 165
