Mineral · Pyroxene group
Jadeite
Na(Al,Fe3+)Si2O6
Jadeite is the sodium aluminium pyroxene that forms the rarer, more valuable jade of Myanmar (Hpakant), Guatemala and Japan; imperial green jadeite is among the costliest gem materials. It is denser and harder than nephrite and takes a glassier polish. Rough boulders with a weathered skin are sold at Myanmar's gem emporium, and Burmese jade carries sanctions and ethical-sourcing issues in some countries.
| Formula | Na(Al,Fe3+)Si2O6 |
|---|---|
| IMA status | grandfathered |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 |
| Group | Pyroxene group |
| Type locality | None |
| Streak | White |
| Specific gravity | 3.3 |
| Reference list | IMA List of Minerals (RRUFF) — verify formula and status against the current list |
Fakes and treatments
'A' jade is untreated, 'B' jade is bleached and polymer-impregnated, 'C' jade is dyed; only 'A' should be sold as natural. Guatemalan jadeite is often mislabelled Burmese.
Elsewhere
Cite this article
Stratum Study. "Jadeite" (Mineral). Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-19. https://stratum.black/study/minerals/jadeite. Accessed 2026-09-20.
@misc{stratum-jadeite,
title = {Jadeite},
author = {{Stratum Study}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/study/minerals/jadeite}},
year = {2026},
note = {Mineral article, Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-19; sources: stratum, wikidata, commons. Accessed 2026-09-20.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.