In addition to carrying the generic properties of Green Jade, White Jade directs energy in the most constructive way possible. It filters distractions to achieve optimum results and assists in decision-making as it accesses all relevant information. It is the purest jade stone.

White jade consists of actinolite which consists of both calcium and magnesium.

White nephrite jade that is not very translucent is also known as mutton fat jade and sometimes has a slight yellow color (usually from iron oxide). An opaque white jade or slightly brown or grey jade is sometimes known as chicken bone jade. Lapidary quality white nephrite comes out of China and other locations, commercial quantities coming from Canada.

Jadeite can also be of a white variety the white color coming from sodium aluminum silicate rich form of pyroxene. White jadeite is very rare and valuable.

The Imperial Seal of China, the He Shi Bi, was a relic with historical importance in China and was white nephrite.

Carp made out of White Nephrite Jade from the Qing Dynasty 1655-1911CE, China. (Released under the creative commons license)

Source: USA, China, Italy, Myanmar (Burma), Russia, Middle East

Hardness: 6

Chakra (of white jade): Third Eye

Zodiac: Gemini

Planet: Venus

Benificial for: Longetivity, self-sufficiancy, detoxification, filtration, elimination, kidneys, supraneal glands, cellular and skeletal systems, stitches, fertility, childbirth, hips, spleen, water-salt-alkaline ratio

White stones help with problem solving.

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Kinds of Black Jade

There are many different colors in which jade can appear. These colors of jade can be red, black, brown, blue, the rare lavender and the priceless white jade (just to mention a few).

Jade also comes in two different varieties and these are nephrite and jadeite. These two forms of jade appear similar and are both very dense finely grained stones but come from different mineralogical groups.

The colors of these stone can vary depending on the amounts of iron oxide and magnesium. Iron rich varieties of jade are darker in color from dark green jade to grey-green jade, red jade, orange jade all the way to black jade. Iron rich black Cowell jade can contain almost 8% iron oxide!

Jade that has less iron oxide therefore have more magnesium and are lighter in color. These can be white, light green and lavender.

Big Sur Ocean-Polished Black Jade. Image provided by {link:http://pacificjadeart.com/gallery.htm}Pacific Jade Art{/link}.

Black Jade Color

Black Jade is a lovely, dark version of the multi-colored stone. The black color of jade comes from high amounts of iron and/or graphite.

Black Nephrite Jade

Nephrite jade is a common form of jade found all over the world. Nephrite jade belongs to the amphibole group of minerals and has a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale.

Though nephrite is softer than jadeite it is actually much tougher. Nephrites fracture strength is about 200 MN/m2 whereas jadeites is about 100 MN/m2. This can be an explanation of why nephrite jade is commonly known as the “toughest natural stone on earth”.

This form of the jade stone has been used for thousands of years because of its valued toughness and density which is the reason it has been used for everything from weapons to tools.

When the term toughness is used it is in regards to how brittle a material is. This is a large difference from the term ‘hardness’ used for stones which relates to how easily a mineral or material scratches.

Nephrite jade is a tough stone because of its finely interlocked fibers. These are actually microscopic needle-like crystals which bind the stone together. These fine needles are randomly grouped together where the best quality nephrite has a large amount of. When these small crystals are more coarse the jade is less tough.

jadeite“>Black Jadeite

Jadeite is a harder jade which is found in fewer locations throughout the world. It is rarer and in effect can be much more expensive than nephrite jade. Jadeite belongs to the pyroxene group of minerals.

Where is black jade from?

Black jade can be found all over the world from California and Wyoming, Canada, Southern Australia, Taiwan, Burma, Guatemala and other locations.

Where is black nephrite found?

Black nephrite is the most common stone of the two varieties of jade (as is all nephrite when compared to jadeite). Black nephrite comes out of California, Wyoming, Canada, Southern Australia and Taiwan.

Nephrite is often called the “most dense natural stone on earth”.

jadeite-found”>Where is black jadeite found?

Black jadeite comes out of Burma and Guatemala. Jadeite is the hardest and rarest of the two types of jade.

Black Big Sur Jade

Black is a semi-common color of Big Sur jade. This is found among the coves and cliffs of the jade cove area. Big Sur jade is of the nephrite variety.

Black Taiwan Jade

Black jade is also found in Taiwan. Taiwan jade is of the nephrite variety of jade. It is also known as Fongtian jade.

New research shows that Taiwan was a center point for sea based trade in the prehistoric world. This same research shows that there is a very distinct type of jade earring that was distributed throughout Southern Asia. These have been found to have been made from Taiwanese jade.

Discovery.Com states:

Of 144 jade artifacts from 49 sites the researchers analyzed using non-invasive scanning equipment, 116 specimens from 38 sites were made from Taiwan jade.
“This is very strong evidence that ancient populations in different regions had very frequent contact and communication,” said Hung, of the university’s Department of Archaeology and Natural History. She says this shows contact between Taiwan and the Philippines stretches back 4000 years.

When this study is compared to that of Guatemalan jade (which was recently discovered to be distributed throughout Mesoamerica and was traded through extensive trade routes) it becomes apparent that jade has been revered by many cultures throughout time.

Black Canadian Jade

Canadian, or British Columbian Jade, is contains some of the best quality nephrite in the world. The jade from this location can be various shades of green with black flecks inside of it, which can be quite beautiful.

Black Burmese Jade

Burmese jade can be the very rare black. This is of the jadeite variety and is extremely valuable.

Black Wyoming Jade

Wyoming jade can also be black in color. This is a beautiful stone and is of the nephrite variety of jade.

Black Maori Jade

Maori pendants are sometimes made with the black jade stone. There is a common misconception that these pendants are actually Maori jade which is false. The black nephrite jade that is used in Maori pendants is actually from Southern Australia.

Black Australian Jade

Black Australian jade was first discovered in 1965 by Harry Schiller while prospecting his farm. Well over 100 different outcroppings of Australian nephrite have now been discovered.

South Australian nephrite comes in three commercial grade colors; green, black and premium black nephrite. This jade is commonly called Cowell jade.

To date about 3,000 tons of nephrite has been produced in Southern Australia.

To find out more about black Australian nephrite check out PIRSA Minerals on Black Nephrite at the Southern Australian Governments website.

Black Guatemalan Jade

One of the most exciting discoveries for jade enthusiasts if the finding of jadeite in Guatemala. Black jadeite is now being found in Guatemala as well. These ancient mines were once lost after Spanish invasion are now being rediscovered.

The following is a quote from the Lapidary Journal on Guatemalan jade.

Guatemala is now producing the world’s newest jadeite colors, including “rainbow jadeite” (several colors in one slab or boulder). Ward is particularly fond of the black jadeite. “Black jadeite from the Motagua Valley area,” he says, “represents the creamiest, richest, and best black jadeite in the world, far exceeding Burma’s darkest, which is gray and can only be sold as charcoal.”

What gives black jade its color?

The black color comes from both graphite and iron oxide in the stone. It is actually considered to be a very deep green but because of the high iron content, it appears black. This is why when one sees black jade there is often a slightly recognizable green hue. This green hue is seen mostly through any parts of the jade that might be transparent when put in front of light. This transparency is usually found in the edges of the given piece, which seem to glow a very dark green. As these pieces of jade are very black you tend not to be able to see through most of the stone.

Black Jade Meaning

The meaning of black jade has been attributed to the properties of protection, power and control (of ones self).

Black Jade Properties

The metaphysical properties of black jade consist of offering protection from negativity and fostering the wise use of power. As with all black stones, black jade gives protection for attack and helps us to control our greed or need for control by instilling wisdom in the use of personal power.
Some sources say Black jade is a stone to purify and cleanse one’s energies. It is said to be capable of discharging any amount of negative energy, and able to keep all negative energies in one’s surroundings away from the wearer.

When holding a jade stone in your hand, one may experience feelings of calmness or serenity. Others have experienced the feeling that black jade brings out the wisdom that is hidden in each of us.

Black jade has also been said to have water energy that brings the flow of the water element to focus on your potential.

• Chakra (of black jade): This color of jade is known to be associated with the root or base chakras.
• Zodiac: The zodiac sign associated with this stone is Taurus.
• Planet: The planet that is symbolized in this stone is Venus.
• Beneficial for: Black jade is calming, helps with reflection and prayer, gives protection against negative energy, is a grounding stone and is used to channel power.
• The Color Black: The color black is related to power, grounding, fearlessness, confidence, solidity. Black is technically not a color at all and instead absorbs color which explains its relation to power.
• Chakra (of the color black): Black does not belong to a specific chakra. It is considered the color of all the chakras or as the chakras less mentioned such as the 12th chakra located below the feet or an upper chakra located high above the head.

Update:
1/7/09 – Due to the popularity of this article we have updated it with much more information as well as links to other references on the popular black jade stone. Feel free to browse the site and learn more about the jade stone. Below is a list of the most related pages to this one which you might be interested in.

Also, if you liked this page please leave a suggestion and/or comment below. We would love to hear from you.

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Heated or Burned Jade

One type of jade that is called “fire jade” is a piece that has been burned or heated by fire.

When jade is heated it turns a glowing hot red. Jade that is tainted by fire will often have visible “veins” throughout the stone that are a contrasting color (usually an orange-red tint) than the rest of the stone.

Fire jade can be found virtually anywhere jade can be found because it was used in cooking by natives.

An example of this can be found by the natives of Big Sur who used heated jade to roast their nuts and seeds. Jade is an excellent conductor of temperature. They would add their glowing hot jade to baskets, which they then tossed with their grains in order to cook and roast.

Red Fire Jade

Another type of jade that has been called fire jade is actually vulcan jade. This type of jade has absorbed iron oxide through its porous skin giving it colors of red, orange and yellows. In this case vulcan jade that has a deep red color and has been named fire jade by local jade hunters.

How to decipher Fire Jade

Fire jade is hard to decipher to an amateur jade hunter, but once discovered it becomes obvious to see the differences in a piece of fire jade and a piece of jade that has not been heated.

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1. Metaphysical Properties and Meaning of Green Jade

Green jade symbolizes calmness and serenity, just as many green objects in nature do. Like a meadow or forest, green jade is thought as a channel for one to release negative thoughts and welcome positivity and harmony to the mind and body.

Green jade is the most common type of jade. Ranging from a plethora of shades such as emerald, spinach and lime green, this green stone is held in the highest regard when referencing any type of jade.

A large piece of green jade. Picture owned by {link:http://pacificjadeart.com/Gallery/Big-Sur-Jade-Festival-2008/S2is_5043}Pacific Jade Hunt{/link}

The vibrations from the green jade stone are said to be in such harmony with the Heart Chakra more than any other stone. The emerald-green form of jadeite is known as “Imperial Jade,” and is considered a more valuable form of jadeite because of the clarity and vibrance of the emerald color.

Green jade is most associated with Chinese nephrite and jadite stones, but it is also found in New Zealand, Russia, Guatemala, Swiss Alps, Myanmar (Burma), United States, and Canada.

Historically, a pure-green jade gem was considered extremely valuable and has transcended through time as it is considered just as precious today.

According to Gemstone.org, “The connoisseurs differentiate between seven main qualities, from the intense, even green of imperial jade, via apple green and spinach green, all the way to the lighter and to more heavily speckled shades of green. These special nuances often overlap and can hardly be recognised by the untrained eye. In the USA and Europe, emerald green, spinach green, and apple green are regarded as particularly valuable.”

Metaphysical Properties and Meaning of Green Jade

A close up of green jade's structure. Picture owned by {link:http://pacificjadeart.com/Gallery/Big-Sur-Jade-Festival-2008/S2is_5043}Pacific Jade Art{/link}.

Hardness: 6

Chakra (of Green Jade): Heart

Zodiac: Vergo

Planet: Mercury

Beneficial for: Good luck, serenity, harmony, balance, tranquility, love, fidelity, prosperity, compassion, peace, balancing masculine and feminine energies, fertility, stability, emotional balance, and deep wisdom

Green: The color of healing and hope green for the management of passionate feelings

Chakra (of the color green): The Heart Chakra: In the Chakra system green is the heart, allowing you to release emotionally supressed trauma. This is the soul/heart consciousness. It also allows the expression of love in action.

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Blue jade has been found in the USA, China, Italy, Myanmar (Burma), Russia and the Middle East.

Metaphysically, blue jade is recommended for aid in meditation. In addition to carrying the same generic properties as jade, blue jade symbolizes peace and reflection.

It has also been recognized to bring inner serenity and patience. This stone is for slow but steady progress and helps people who feel overwhelmed by situations beyond their control.

Blue nephrite jade comes from many locations including high quality Big Sur specimens.

A bluish green nephrite jade from Big Sur. A great example of the various hues of color that jade can produce. Picture used with explicit permission by {link:http://pacificjadeart.com/Gallery/Big-Sur-Jade-Festival-2008/S2is_5006}Pacific Jade Art{/link}.

Blue jadeite comes in commercial amounts from two locations; Myanmar (Burma) and Guatemala. Guatemala has recently emerged as a promising new location to see high quality blue jadeite appear.

A recent discovery in the deep wild mountains of Guatemala has shown that Guatemala has a vast area of blue jade, the size of Rhode Island. Some of this jadeite is surprisingly even higher in quality than Burmese jadeite. This blue jade also appears to be the same jade used by Olmec in Costa Rica, which suggests that there was a massive trade network that we never before imagined.

To find out more about this amazing discovery of blue jade go to Adamant Blue Jade to read this very facinating and extensive article about their discovery.

Another example of blue jade off of the Big Sur coast. Picture used with explicit permission from {link:http://pacificjadeart.com/Gallery/album15/IMG_5848?full=1}Pacific Jade Art{/link}.

• Hardness: 6
• Chakra (of Blue Jade): Third Eye
• Zodiac: Taurus
• Planet: Venus
• Benificial for: Longetivity, self-sufficiancy, detoxification, filtration, elimination, kidneys, supraneal glands, cellular and skeletal systems, stitches, fertility, childbirth, hips, spleen, water-salt-alkaline ratio
• Chakra (of the color blue): The Throat Chakra. In the Chakra system blue is the color of the throat, giving the ability to verbalize and to express truth through power of the spoken word.

The color blue is universally accepted as calming and even friendly. This natural color is peaceful and cool.

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In addition to carrying the same generic properties to jade, it accesses anger, releasing tension so that it can be harnessed creatively and can enhance assertion in timid people. However, it is possible that red jade has the power to daunt its possessor because its energy levels might be over-stimulating.

Red Jade from the Big Sur coast. This type of jade is known as botryoidal or bubble jade because of its multitude of nodes that appear as bubbles. Picture accredited to {link:http://pacificjadeart.com/Gallery/Big-Sur-Jade-Festival-2008/S2is_5034}Pacific Jade Art{/link}

If used carefully, one could learn to utilize the benefits of this powerful red jade and take advantage of its magnetism to negativity in order to deal with buried emotions.

Naisha Ahsian, co-author of The Book of Stones, says that red jade “is a stone of physical vitality, strength and passion. It stimulates one’s life-force energy, creative energy and sexual energy. Red jade is the chi stone, facilitating and enhancing the flow of life energy through the body and energy field.”

Red jade is often confused with fire jade, yet it they are not the same.

Some types of fire jade can appear glowing red and fall under a category of red jade, yet not all fire jade appears red. Red jade is found in the USA, China, Italy, Myanmar, Russia, and Middle East.

Another example of red jade from Big Sur. The red, orange and yellow colors are from iron oxide that the piece of jade accumulates when in the soil. This is also know as vulcan jade and is exclusive to the Big Sur Coast. Picture permission from {link:http://pacificjadeart.com/Gallery/albums.php}Pacific Jade Art{/link}.

• Hardness: 6
• Chakra (of Red Jade): Base, Sacral
• Zodiac: Aries
• Planet: Venus
• Benificial for: Anger, longetivity, self-sufficiancy, detoxification, filtration, elimination, kidneys, supraneal glands, cellular and skeletal systems, stitches, fertility, childbirth, hips, spleen, water-salt-alkaline ratio
• Chakra (of the color red): The Base Chakra. In the Chakra system red is the base; grounding the spirit forces in the body. Allows the ability to work lovingly on the physical plane.

The color red is directly related to heat. It conjures up fiery emotions ranging from love to violence. Its association to the heart and blood create a diverse pool of recognition, from cupid’s sweet arrowed heart to “seeing red” in a rage of anger.

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Jade color can actually vary in its hues of ranging from; pale to forest green, amazing shades of reds, oranges and yellows, the extremely rare violets, white and black, to the fascinating shades of blue that imitate the depths of the oceans.

Examples of jades different hues of colors. Jade ranging from various green to red and blue. Image owned by {link:http://pacificjadeart.com/Gallery/Big-Sur-Jade-Festival-2008/S2is_5055}Pacific Jade Art.{/link}

What does jade’s color represent?

An example of the many different shades of color that jade can display. Picture copyrighted by {link:http://pacificjadeart.com/Gallery/Big-Sur-Jade-Festival-2008/S2is_5037}Pacific Jade Art{/link}

Jade Colors and Meanings

What gives jade its color?

Different amounts and types of trace elements that can change the color of jade.

The colors of jade can vary depending on the amount of iron oxide and magnesium.

More iron in jade causes darker color. These can range from dark green, grey-green, red, and black jade. Australian Cowell jade can contain almost 8% iron oxide!

Magnesium rich jade (which has less iron oxide) is lighter in color. These can be white, light green and lavender.

• Green Jade

  This is the common color visualized when people think of jade. Green jade gets its color from Chromium, an element in all living things.

• White Jade

  White Nephrite Jade is 99% tremolite. White Jade has little impurities. White jadeite is very rare. White jade is special and can be used instead of diamonds in engagement rings for your loved one.

• Yellow Jade

  Yellow nephrite jade has a small amount of iron oxide. Yellow jade is said to have the element Ta.

• Red Jade

  Red nephrite jade has a large amount of iron oxide. This is what gives red jade its “rusty” color.

• Black Jade

  Black nephrite jade consists of both iron oxide and graphite. This color of jade can be deep black to a very dark green.

• Blue Jade

  Blue jade is rare and beautiful. This kind of jade comes from all over the world, the nephrite version commonly found in Big Sur California while the jadeite version now being found in Guatemala. Blue jade was thought to be a symbol of the heavens by the Chinese.

• Fire Jade

  This is a term given to two different types of jade. Fire jade usually refers to jade that has been used as a cooking stone which gives it a black “burned” look.

• Vulcan Jade

  Vulcan jade is a rare type of jade that is said to only be found in California. This jade has a coating of iron oxide which gives it a very rusty look. This coating can be red, orange, yellow and brown.

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