AllMineralsRock
Jade Vs. Jadeite
Jade is a very popular gemstone composed of sodium aluminum silicate.[1] Jadeite is also a very popular mineral and its chemical composition is also sodium aluminum silicate.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Jade and Jadeite
For a quick recap of the differences jade and jadeite:- While both jade and jadeite can be vitreous or waxy, in terms of luster, jadeite can be greasy or pearly.
- While both jade and jadeite can be commonly green, jadeite is often blue, white or yellow.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Jade and Jadeite
The similarities of jade and jadeite include:- Jade and jadeite both can be opaque or translucent.
- In terms of crystallography, jade and jadeite both are monoclinic.
- For chemical formulas, jade and jadeite both are NaAlSi2O6.
- Jade and jadeite both streak white.
- Jade's rarity is similar to jadeite.
- Jade's hardness overlaps with jadeite - jade ranges from 6 to 7 and jadeite ranges from 6.5 to 7 on the Moh's scale.
- Jade's specific gravity overlaps with jadeite - jade ranges from 2.9 to 3.38 and jadeite ranges from 3.25 to 3.34.
Summary of Jade
Jade is a mineral that has been highly valued for thousands of years across many cultures. It is a compact, dense stone that is tough and durable, making it ideal for carving and jewelry making. Jade comes in a variety of colors, including green, white, brown, and black, and can be translucent or opaque.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.Table Comparison of Jade vs Jadeite
| Jade (src) | Jadeite (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | translucent, opaque | translucent, opaque |
| Chemical Formula | NaAlSi2O6 | NaAlSi2O6 |
| Chemical Composition | sodium aluminum silicate | sodium aluminum silicate |
| Specific Gravity | 2.9, 3.38 | 3.25, 3.34, 3.36 |
| Hardness | 6, 7 | 6.5, 7 |
| Streak | white | white |
| Crystallography | monoclinic | monoclinic |
| Hydrous | No | No |
| Colors | common: green sometimes: red less common: blue, gray, pink, black, brown, white, orange, purple, yellow, band, multicolor |
common: green, yellow, blue, white sometimes: red, brown, purple less common: gray, pink, black, orange, violet, colorless, band, multicolor |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.020 - 0.027 | δ = 0.013 - 0.020 |