Difference between revisions of "Nephrite"

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[[File:1994.272-SC130675.jpg|thumb|]]
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[[File:1994.272-SC130675.jpg|thumb|Bird pendant<br>MFA# 1994.272]]
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
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[[File:2004.2235-SC131486.jpg|thumb|Maori pendants<br>MFA# 2004.2235]]
 
A hard, dark green stone that is one of two minerals commonly called [[jade]]; the other is [[jadeite]]. Nephrite, a mixture of[[actinolite]] and [[tremolite]], is a calcium magnesium silicate with traces of [[chromium]] and [[nickel]] that produce its color. Nephrite is more opaque and usually darker than jadeite.  Sources for nephrite include New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan (nephrite cat's eyes), Turkestan, Korea, Siberia, Mexico, Canada (British Columbia), and the U.S. (Alaska, California, Wyoming).  Nephrite has an oily, lustrous appearance when polished. It is sometimes variegated in color and can incorporate white, yellow, brown, gray, and black shades. Nephrite has been used since Neolithic times for small utensils, decorative carvings and jewelry. The greenstone used by the Maoris of New Zealand is nephrite. When heated to about 1025 C, nephrite changes mineral forms to [[diopside]].
 
A hard, dark green stone that is one of two minerals commonly called [[jade]]; the other is [[jadeite]]. Nephrite, a mixture of[[actinolite]] and [[tremolite]], is a calcium magnesium silicate with traces of [[chromium]] and [[nickel]] that produce its color. Nephrite is more opaque and usually darker than jadeite.  Sources for nephrite include New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan (nephrite cat's eyes), Turkestan, Korea, Siberia, Mexico, Canada (British Columbia), and the U.S. (Alaska, California, Wyoming).  Nephrite has an oily, lustrous appearance when polished. It is sometimes variegated in color and can incorporate white, yellow, brown, gray, and black shades. Nephrite has been used since Neolithic times for small utensils, decorative carvings and jewelry. The greenstone used by the Maoris of New Zealand is nephrite. When heated to about 1025 C, nephrite changes mineral forms to [[diopside]].
 
[[File:2004.2235-SC131486.jpg|thumb|]]
 
  
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
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[[[SliderGallery rightalign|Jade, green, large block.TIF~FTIR (MFA)]]]
 
[[[SliderGallery rightalign|Jade, green, large block.TIF~FTIR (MFA)]]]
  
== Other Properties ==
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==Physical and Chemical Properties==
 
 
Monoclinic system with fibrous or granular crystalline masses.   
 
 
 
Luster = vitreous to silky. Streak = colorless 
 
 
 
Cleavage is good in two directions 
 
 
 
Fluorescence: nephrite does not fluoresce 
 
  
Max abs = doublet at 689 nm with sharp band at 509 nm and others at 460, 498 nm
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* Monoclinic system with fibrous or granular crystalline masses.   
 +
* Luster = vitreous to silky.
 +
* Streak = colorless 
 +
* Cleavage is good in two directions 
 +
* Fluorescence: nephrite does not fluoresce 
 +
* Max abs = doublet at 689 nm with sharp band at 509 nm and others at 460, 498 nm
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
 
|-
 
! scope="row"| Density
 
! scope="row"| Density
| 2.9-3.1
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| 2.9-3.1 g/ml
 
|-
 
|-
 
! scope="row"| Refractive Index
 
! scope="row"| Refractive Index
 
| 1.60-1.69
 
| 1.60-1.69
 
|}
 
|}
 
== Additional Information ==
 
 
° E.West Fitzhugh, "Jade" ''The Dictionary of Art'', Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996.
 
 
° Michael O'Donoghue and Louise Joyner, ''Identification of Gemstones'', Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2003
 
 
° Mineralogy Database: [http://www.webmineral.com/data/Actinolite.shtml actinolite]
 
  
 
== Comparisons ==
 
== Comparisons ==
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[[media:download_file_462.pdf|Properties of Common Gemstones]]
 
[[media:download_file_462.pdf|Properties of Common Gemstones]]
  
 +
==Resources and Citations==
 +
* E.West Fitzhugh, "Jade" ''The Dictionary of Art'', Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996.
  
 
+
* Mineralogy Database: [http://www.webmineral.com/data/Actinolite.shtml actinolite]
== Sources Checked for Data in Record ==
 
  
 
* Jack Odgen, ''Jewellery of the Ancient World'', Rizzoli International Publications Inc., New York City, 1982
 
* Jack Odgen, ''Jewellery of the Ancient World'', Rizzoli International Publications Inc., New York City, 1982
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* A.Lucas, J.R.Harris, ''Ancient Egyptian Materials and Industries'', Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd., London, 4th edition, 1962
 
* A.Lucas, J.R.Harris, ''Ancient Egyptian Materials and Industries'', Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd., London, 4th edition, 1962
  
* ''The Dictionary of Art'', Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996  Comment: E. West Fitzhugh "Jade"
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* Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephrite (Accessed Nov. 9, 2005)
 
 
* Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com  Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephrite (Accessed Nov. 9, 2005)
 
  
 
* Michael O'Donoghue and Louise Joyner, ''Identification of Gemstones'', Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2003  Comment: Hardness=6.5; RI=1.600-1.641; Specific gravity=2.96-3.02;
 
* Michael O'Donoghue and Louise Joyner, ''Identification of Gemstones'', Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2003  Comment: Hardness=6.5; RI=1.600-1.641; Specific gravity=2.96-3.02;
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* ''The American Heritage Dictionary'' or ''Encarta'', via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
 
* ''The American Heritage Dictionary'' or ''Encarta'', via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
  
* Website address 1  Comment: http://www.geo.utexas.edu/courses/347k/redesign/gem_notes/Jade/jade_triple_page.htm (fluorescence information)
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* Website: http://www.geo.utexas.edu/courses/347k/redesign/gem_notes/Jade/jade_triple_page.htm (fluorescence information)
  
  
  
 
[[Category:Materials database]]
 
[[Category:Materials database]]

Revision as of 15:13, 9 August 2022

Bird pendant
MFA# 1994.272

Description

Maori pendants
MFA# 2004.2235

A hard, dark green stone that is one of two minerals commonly called Jade; the other is Jadeite. Nephrite, a mixture ofActinolite and Tremolite, is a calcium magnesium silicate with traces of Chromium and Nickel that produce its color. Nephrite is more opaque and usually darker than jadeite. Sources for nephrite include New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan (nephrite cat's eyes), Turkestan, Korea, Siberia, Mexico, Canada (British Columbia), and the U.S. (Alaska, California, Wyoming). Nephrite has an oily, lustrous appearance when polished. It is sometimes variegated in color and can incorporate white, yellow, brown, gray, and black shades. Nephrite has been used since Neolithic times for small utensils, decorative carvings and jewelry. The greenstone used by the Maoris of New Zealand is nephrite. When heated to about 1025 C, nephrite changes mineral forms to Diopside.

Synonyms and Related Terms

jade; nephurite; greenstone, actinolite; tremolite; nefrita (Esp.); néphrite (Fr.); Nephrit (Deut.); nefriet (Ned.)

FTIR (MFA)

Jade, green, large block.TIF


Physical and Chemical Properties

  • Monoclinic system with fibrous or granular crystalline masses.
  • Luster = vitreous to silky.
  • Streak = colorless
  • Cleavage is good in two directions
  • Fluorescence: nephrite does not fluoresce
  • Max abs = doublet at 689 nm with sharp band at 509 nm and others at 460, 498 nm
Composition Ca2(MgFe)5Si8O22(OH)2
Mohs Hardness 5.0-6.0
Density 2.9-3.1 g/ml
Refractive Index 1.60-1.69

Comparisons

Properties of Common Gemstones

Resources and Citations

  • E.West Fitzhugh, "Jade" The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996.
  • Jack Odgen, Jewellery of the Ancient World, Rizzoli International Publications Inc., New York City, 1982
  • A.Lucas, J.R.Harris, Ancient Egyptian Materials and Industries, Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd., London, 4th edition, 1962
  • Michael O'Donoghue and Louise Joyner, Identification of Gemstones, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2003 Comment: Hardness=6.5; RI=1.600-1.641; Specific gravity=2.96-3.02;
  • Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
  • C.W.Chesterman, K.E.Lowe, Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1979
  • G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 70
  • Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
  • The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

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