What is the difference between jade and jadeite?
What was traditionally called jade is in fact two separate and distinct minerals: jadeite and nephrite. They have different chemical compositions, hardness and density. They even have different crystal structures. All of the classic jade from China is nephrite; jadeite comes mainly from Burma. The rarest and most valuable jadeite is called imperial jade, colored by traces of chromium. It has color and transparency rivaling fine emerald, though imperial jade is slightly more yellow in tone. Jadeite is generally very expensive, while nephrite is still quite affordable.
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