Nephrite

Commonly known rarer (so called collectors stones) very rare (rarities) relatively rare organic material

Nephrite is no mineral but a mixture of the minerals actinolite and tremolite.
Nefriet, Nefrita, Nefritas, Nefrīts, Nefryt, Nephrit, Nephrita, Néphrite, נפריט, Нефрит, เนไฟรต์, 연옥, ネフライト, 軟玉

Mohs scale: 5.5 - 6.5
Density (g/cm³): 2.96 - 3.35
Refractive index: 1.606 - 1.632
Cleavage: poor
Colors: white, grey, yellow, brown, green, nearly black
Transparency: translucent - opaque
Luster: vitreous - greasy
Fluorescence: -
Pleochroism: -
Deposits: Canada, China, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, USA etc
Discovery: ?
1st Description: ?
Name: from the Greek word "nephros" (kidney)

Nephrite Mineral

Origin: California / USA

Photo by kind permission of
© Roger Weller

Nephrite Mineral

Origin: Siberia / Russia

Photo by kind permission of
© Roger Weller

Nephrite Mineral

Origin: Monterey Bay / California / USA

Photo by kind permission of
© Roger Weller

Nephrite Ring

Nephrite: 14 ct; 2.0 x 1.5 cm; Russia
Diamonds: 2; total 0.08 ct
Gold: 14K, Yellow Gold

Photo by kind permission of © www.africagems.com

Nephrite Mineral polished

Size: 5.3 x 5.4 x 1.4 cm
Weight: 55 g
Origin: Siberia / Russia

Photo by kind permission of © JewelsRoughGems

Nephrite Pendant

Size: 6.99 x 3.02 x 0.64 cm

Origin: Lake Baikal / Siberia / Russia

Photo by kind permission of © JewelsRoughGems

Nephrite

Size: 4.0 x 3.0 cm

Origin: Canada

Photo by kind permission of © www.edelsteine.at

Nephrite Mineral

Origin: Wyoming / USA
On display at the Natural History Museum, Los Angeles, California

Photo by kind permission of © Roger Weller

Jade: see Jade.

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