Jadeite
green · Jade family
| Also known as | Jade (Jade family) |
|---|---|
| Colour | Green |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 |
| Lustre | Subvitreous, pearly on cleavages |
| Streak | White |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Transparency | Translucent |
| Cleavage | Good on [110] |
| Fracture | Splintery |
| Chemical formula | NaAlSi 2 O 6 or Na(Al,Fe 3+ )Si 2 O 6 |
| Specific gravity | 3.24 to 3.43 |
What is Jadeite?
Jadeite is a pyroxene mineral with composition NaAlSi2O6. It is hard (Mohs hardness of about 6.5 to 7.0), very tough, and dense, with a specific gravity of about 3.4. It is found in a wide range of colors, but is most often found in shades of green or white. Jadeite is formed only in the subduction zones of continental margins, where rock undergoes metamorphism at high pressure but relatively low temperature.
How to identify Jadeite
- Lustre: Subvitreous, pearly on cleavages.
- Hardness: Mohs 6.5–7 — about as hard as a steel knife.
- Streak: White.
- Habit: Monoclinic crystal system.
Jadeite value
Jadeite is a fine gemstone priced per carat by quality — colour, clarity, cut, carat and origin — not by weight in grams. Typical market ranges:
| Quality | Price per carat |
|---|---|
| Commercial | $5–$300 / ct |
| Good | $50–$2,000 / ct |
| Fine | $1,000–$30,000 / ct |
| Top | $3,000–$300,000+ / ct |
Ranges cross-validated across two independent research passes against gemstone price guides, 2026-06 — sources: gia.edu, naturalgemstones.com. Colour saturation, clarity, cut and origin move the price enormously, and treatments or lab-grown stones sell for a fraction — so this is a guide, not an appraisal. Have anything valuable checked by a certified gemmologist. See the full crystal & gemstone value guide.
