# Jade

Jade is a beautiful green mineral that people use to make jewelry and decorations. It feels smooth and cool to the touch, and some believe it brings good luck.

- **Category:** [Mineral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mineral)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Also known as:** Imperial Jade, Jadeite, Nephrite

![Jade](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Jadestein.jpg&width=800)

Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jadestein.jpg)

## Appearance

The Jade typically displays a smooth, often waxy or greasy surface, commonly in various shades of green, though white, lavender, and black varieties exist. Its fine-grained, interlocking structure gives it a characteristic translucent to opaque appearance, distinguishing it from simpler green stones.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- Ancient cultures used strong jade to create durable tools, weapons, and even sharp axe heads!
- Jade isn't just one mineral, it's actually two different tough minerals: nephrite and jadeite!
- Massive jade boulders, weighing several tons, have been discovered hidden deep within the Earth!
- Some extremely rare jade can be more valuable per ounce than pure gold or diamonds!

## Special abilities

- **Unbreakable Toughness:** Jade has an extremely tough, interlocking crystal structure that makes it very resistant to breaking or chipping.
- **Cooling Touch:** Jade often feels cool to the touch due to its high density and thermal conductivity, making it refreshing to hold.
- **Sculpting Stone:** Its unique combination of toughness and moderate hardness allows skilled artisans to carve intricate designs without shattering.

## Measurements & details

- **Color Range:** green, white, lavender, yellow, black, red-orange
- **Hardness:** 6.5
- **Luster:** greasy to vitreous
- **Specific Gravity:** 3.3
- **Crystal System:** monoclinic

## Traits

- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient): Ancient refers to organisms, objects, or geological formations that have existed for an extremely long period.
- [Gemstone](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gemstone): A gemstone is a piece of mineral crystal which, when cut and polished, is used to make jewelry or other adornments.
- [Natural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/natural): Natural refers to organisms, materials, or phenomena existing or produced by nature, not artificially created.

## Collections

- [Minerals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/minerals)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Jade is safe to touch and hold, but it's important to handle it carefully to avoid dropping and breaking it.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Jade?

Compare crystal habit, luster, transparency, cleavage and surface texture. Minerals with different compositions can share almost the same color. Mineral Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What colors can Jade be?

green, white, lavender, yellow, black, red-orange

### How hard is Jade?

6.5

### What kind of luster does Jade have?

greasy to vitreous

### What is Jade's specific gravity?

3.3

### What crystal system does Jade belong to?

monoclinic

## More Mineral

- [Quartz Crystal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quartz-crystal)
- [Amethyst](https://www.snappit.app/explore/amethyst)
- [Rose Quartz](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rose-quartz)
- [Citrine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/citrine)

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Source: [Jade: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jade)