AllMineralsRock
Jadeite Vs. Vesuvianite
Jadeite is a very popular mineral composed of sodium aluminum silicate.[1] Vesuvianite is a popular mineral and its chemical composition is calcium magnesium aluminum silicate.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Jadeite and Vesuvianite
For a quick recap of the differences jadeite and vesuvianite:- While both jadeite and vesuvianite can be opaque or translucent, vesuvianite can be transparent.
- In terms of crystallography, jadeite is monoclinic while vesuvianite is tetragonal.
- For chemical formulas, jadeite is NaAlSi2O6 while vesuvianite is Ca10Mg2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH)4.
- While both jadeite and vesuvianite can be vitreous, in terms of luster, jadeite can be greasy, pearly or waxy and vesuvianite can be resinous.
- While both jadeite and vesuvianite can be commonly green, jadeite is often blue, white or yellow and vesuvianite can be commonly black or pink.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Jadeite and Vesuvianite
The similarities of jadeite and vesuvianite include:- Jadeite and vesuvianite both streak white.
- Jadeite's rarity is similar to vesuvianite.
- Jadeite's hardness overlaps with vesuvianite - jadeite ranges from 6.5 to 7 and vesuvianite is 6.5 on the Moh's scale.
Summary of Jadeite
Jadeite is a mineral that belongs to the pyroxene group and is one of two types of jade, the other being nephrite. Jadeite is a sodium aluminum silicate with a hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, making it a relatively hard mineral. It is usually found in shades of green, but it can also appear in white, pink, yellow, and blue colors. Jadeite is primarily found in Myanmar, but it can also be found in other countries such as Guatemala, Japan, and Russia.Summary of Vesuvianite
Vesuvianite is a mineral that is also known as idocrase. It is a silicate mineral that is typically green, yellow, brown, or blue. Vesuvianite is commonly found in metamorphic rocks such as skarns, marble, and quartzite. It is often associated with other minerals such as garnet, diopside, and wollastonite.Table Comparison of Jadeite vs Vesuvianite
| Jadeite (src) | Vesuvianite (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | translucent, opaque | transparent, translucent, opaque |
| Chemical Formula | NaAlSi2O6 | Ca10Mg2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH)4 |
| Chemical Composition | sodium aluminum silicate | calcium magnesium aluminum silicate |
| Hardness | 6.5, 7 | 6.5 |
| Streak | white | white |
| Crystallography | monoclinic | tetragonal |
| Hydrous | No | No |
| Colors | common: green, yellow, blue, white sometimes: red, brown, purple less common: gray, pink, black, orange, violet, colorless, band, multicolor |
common: green, pink, black sometimes: red, blue, brown, white, purple less common: orange, violet, yellow, colorless, multicolor |
| Category | pyroxene | sorosilicate |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.013 - 0.020 | δ = 0.004–0.006 |
| Fracture | splintery, uneven | conchoidal, uneven |