How is jade stone formed?
The jade stone is formed in nature by passing through several geological stages and being exposed to a number of factors and components that represent its formation and affect the determination of its color and type, but before we delve into the explanation of the merits and stages of that process We would like to give you an introductory background on this special stone. Jade is one of the distinctive gemstones that are characterized by their attractive green color and have been used in the formation of wonderful things such as tools, jewelry, precious stones and other things since more than
year. It is worth noting that jade was first used in the manufacture of ax heads, weapons, and scraping and hammering tools due to its hardness. Since some specimens of jade are beautiful and have a wonderful color, people began to use jade for gemstones, ornaments, and decorations. Although it is commonly believed that jade is limited to green, it is found in a wide range of colors including: green, white, purple, yellow, blue, black, red, orange and gray. Well, it is time to learn about how jade is formed in nature and the stages associated with that process in the following lines.
Jade is formed in nature)
It is known that jade is a beautiful and desirable mineral, as it was used in both China and Burma several centuries ago to carve daggers and knives, as it was used in making Jewelery.
Jade is found in several regions of the world extending from the Americas to China, and it is formed in areas where there is “subduction”. To understand “subduction” one must first understand the entity of plate tectonics. Plate tectonics is a theory that states that the Earth’s surface is made up of a series of plates that float on magma within the Earth. This explains the occurrence of many natural phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes or cracks that appear on the surface of the earth and phenomena that occur in the locations and heights of mountain ranges. )
Because these plates float on the magma, they move and collide with each other. This is where subduction zones, as one of the tectonic plate segments, arise under each other. These areas arise due to the collision of plates with each other. The lower plates take the rocks to the depths where there are extreme temperatures and pressures, where the minerals eventually form and turn into jade. An environment of high pressure and relatively low temperature is necessary for the formation of stones known as nephrite or jadeite, two types of jade. It should be noted that the amount of difference in the two types of each other is very different. Where nephrite is largely composed of
interlocking mineral fibers
, while jadeite is formed from Interlocking globules .
Nephrite is also It is a form of the element actinolite that consists of minerals such as sodium, calcium, titanium, manganese, magnesium, iron, silicon, aluminum, hydrogen, and oxygen, as well as water. The surface of this stone appears to be oily in shape and smooth to the touch with some pits in it. It is found in California, British Columbia, Taiwan, Russia, Alaska and New Zealand.
As for
jadeite
; It is rarer than nephrite, a simple mineral composed of aluminum, pyroxene, chromium, sodium, iron, oxygen, and silicon. Also, about 259% of jade stones consist of oxygen. As for
the element chromium is what gives the stone its dark green color . And
the degree of hardness of jadeite is from
6.5 to seven degrees on the Mohs scale ; Which makes it closer to quartz stone. Jadeite is found in a few areas around the world, and is usually found in the regions around Burma, Guatemala, Japan, Russia and California. Although it; Burma remains the main source of high quality jadeites.
The jade stone types are not limited to the previous two; There is even another type called chloramelanite, which is a different type, such as jadeite. This stone is distinguished by its color, which is often dark green or black, but it is rarely attractive for use in carvings and jewelry. Apart from this;
Jade is one of the hardest minerals that Mother Nature produces, along with black diamonds. Although it is often scratched, it is practically indestructible. Since it is formed in rocks and water, it is a symbol of the earth.
Jade is formed for use in carvings
In ancient China, nephrite was used in carvings, While the new jade or what is known as jadeite appeared to Burma in the year 1780. The dark green color of jade is known as imperial jade and is used in the jewelry industry.
Jade is one of the ancient stones known in the world, dating back to the Stone Age. People relied on it to make tools that might enable them to survive. There are references in the written history to the existence of jade from about
the year BC.
Jade stone is extracted from large blocks or natural rocks. Since the outward appearance of the stone is so distinctive, the workers take the risk of digging through the blocks and boulders. and in some places where it is known; Like the Pacific Northwest, jade is mined because the region is subject to earthquakes and the constant movement of land and water. While jade stones can be found in some other areas on the surface of the earth, for example, local residents in the Cascades area of Washington state reported that they found jade stones on the surface of the earth.
