Editing Jade (section)

{{Short description|Ornamental stone, commonly green}}
{{About|the gemstone}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox mineral
| name          = Jade
| category      = 
| boxwidth      =
| boxbgcolor    = #c2f7a8
| boxtextcolor  = black
| image         = Jadestein.jpg 
| alt           = 
| caption       = A piece of unworked jade 
| formula       =
| molweight     = 
| symmetry      = 
| class         = 
| color         = Virtually all colors, mostly green 
| habit         = Intergrown grainy or fine fibrous aggregate 
| system        = Monoclinic 
| twinning      = 
| cleavage      = None 
| fracture      = Splintery 
| tenacity      = Brittle
| mohs          = 6–7 
| luster        = 
| polish        = 
| refractive    = 1.600–1.688
| birefringence = 0.020–0.027 
| pleochroism   = Absent 
|dispersion     = None
| streak        = 
| gravity       = 2.9–3.38 
| melt          = 
| fusibility    = 
| diagnostic    = 
| solubility    = 
| diaphaneity   = Translucent, opaque 
| fluorescence  = 
| other         =
}}
[[File:Jade gisements.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Main jade producing countries]]

'''Jade''' is an umbrella term for two different types of decorative rocks used for [[jewelry]] or [[Ornament (art)|ornaments]]. Jade is often referred to by either of two different [[silicate mineral]] names: [[nephrite]] (a silicate of [[calcium]] and [[magnesium]] in the [[amphibole]] group of minerals), or [[jadeite]] (a silicate of [[sodium]] and [[aluminum]] in the [[pyroxene]] group of minerals).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Eiland |first=Murray |date=2000 |title=Jade Is a State of Mind |url=https://www.academia.edu/9454897 |journal=Rock and Gem |volume=30 |issue=6 |pages=58–59 |via=academia.edu}}</ref> Nephrite is typically green, although may be yellow, white or black. Jadeite varies from white or near-colorless, through various shades of green (including an emerald green, termed 'imperial'), to [[Lavender (color)|lavender]], yellow, orange, brown and black. Rarely it may be blue.
Both of these names refer to their use as gemstones, and each has a mineralogically more specific name. Both the amphibole jade (nephrite) and pyroxene jade are mineral aggregates (rocks) rather than mineral species. 

Nephrite was deprecated by the [[International Mineralogical Association]] as a mineral species name in 1978 (replaced by [[tremolite]]).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Leake |first1=B.E. |title=Nomenclature of amphiboles |journal=American Mineralogist |volume=63 |issue=11–12 |pages=1023–1052 |url=http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM63/AM63_1023.pdf |access-date=5 December 2023}}</ref> The name "nephrite" is mineralogically correct for referring to the rock. Jadeite is a legitimate mineral species, differing from 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.<ref name="Lotus Gemology">{{cite web |last1=Lotus Gemology |title=From Fei Cui to Jadeite and Back • Questions and Answers |url=https://lotusgemology.com/index.php/library/articles/511-from-fei-cui-to-jadeite-and-back-questions-and-answers |website=Lotusgemology.com |publisher=Lotus Gemology |access-date=5 December 2023 |archive-date=5 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205025728/https://www.lotusgemology.com/index.php/library/articles/511-from-fei-cui-to-jadeite-and-back-questions-and-answers |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Jade is well known for its ornamental use in [[East Asian]], [[South Asia]]n, and [[Southeast Asian arts|Southeast Asian art]]. It is commonly used in [[Latin America]], such as [[Mexico]] and [[Guatemala]]. The use of jade in [[Mesoamerica]] for symbolic and ideological ritual was influenced by its rarity and value among [[pre-Columbian]] [[List of pre-Columbian cultures|Mesoamerican cultures]], such as the [[Olmecs]], the [[Maya peoples|Maya]], and [[Valley of Mexico#History of human habitation|other ancient civilizations of the Valley of Mexico]].

Jade is classified into three main types: Type A, Type B, and Type C. Type A jade refers to natural, untreated jadeite jade, prized for its purity and vibrant colors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 March 2023 |title=What is Type "A" Jade? |url=https://www.arljade.com/post/what-is-type-a-jadeite}}</ref> It is the most valuable and sought-after type, often characterized by its vivid green hues and high translucency. Type A jade is revered for its symbolism of purity, harmony, and protection in various cultures, especially in East Asia where it holds significant cultural and spiritual importance. Types B and C have been enhanced with resin and colourant respectively.