The black is among the finest in the world and is sought after by serious carvers. The high prevalence of iron ore in the ground gives the stone its dark colour. However, because black jade is
Aventurine. Aventurine is so like jade that it is also known as Indian or Australian jade. It is not jade at all, though. Instead, it is a type of quartz from a different mineral family.
Black "jade" is actually grey serpentine that's been dyed to have black jadeite's beauty, without its cost. Serpentine is commonly green and was likely named for its similarity to snakeskin.
Black jade has a very big price range since the quality tends to vary widely. You can expect to pay between $1 and $100 per carat.
Black Jade is a rare form of Nephrite Jade. Most of the Black Jade on the market comes from Peru, it can be pure black or speckled with golden Pyrite. The type with Pyrite inclusions is often marketed as “Lemurian” Jade.
Generally, blue is the color of jade that is the rarest because it comes from only a few deposits found in Guatemala, Japan and Myanmar. Green and lavender jade are more common.
Black Jade symbolizes power, protection, self-control, and wisdom. In a broader sense, this stone will teach you the real meaning of prudence, both in the social and financial sense. Black Jade's energies also take on the quality of cleansing and purification.
Real jade is a hard stone, so it won't scratch easily.
Never use Ultra-Sonic jewelry equipment and cleaning solutions on jade. It is best to remove your jade before swimming in a chlorine treated pool, the ocean, showering or soaking in a hot tub. A warning for gardeners – please remove your jade rings before working with dirt and soil.
The small South Australian town of Cowell, on the Eyre Peninsula, is the site of the largest known deposit of black jade in the world today. It was discovered in 1965 by Harry Schiller, on his large farm.
By far the largest Australian nephrite jade deposit is found at Cowell, in South Australia. It was discovered in 1965 by a local farmer who found a 3-4 kg boulder of nephrite near an outcrop of white marble.
Jade in South Australia
Jade deposits near Cowell on Eyre Peninsula are among the largest known nephrite jade deposits in the world. They were discovered in 1965 when Harry Schiller, a local farmer prospecting in the area, collected a 3–4 kg boulder of dense, hard rock near an outcrop of white, dolomitic marble.
Nephrite is one of two gem materials, nephrite and jadeite, that are known as jade. They have a somewhat similar colour range and a tough, microcrystalline structure. Both have been used as carving materials throughout history. Of these two minerals, only nephrite is found in Australia.
Jadeite jade, the rarest and most valuable form of jade, is also known as 'Burmese Jade', (after it's traditional and still most important source - Burma). It has been in wide use only since the mid-18th century, and today is considered the 'precious' form of jade. Most 'fine jewelry' items of jade consist of jadeite.
Benefits Of Black Jade
Black jades are believed to be powerful and effective in providing protection, regeneration, and energy shields. It is considered a powerful healing stone that can enhance physical strength, endurance, and vitality.
Add lukewarm water to a dish large enough to hold your jade piece. Mix in two or three drops of mild, alcohol-free dish or hand soap until totally dissolved. Soak your jade piece in the solution-filled dish for up to one minute. Gently scrub the object with a delicate brush or your fingers.
They check its level of transparency. They look for even coloration or a pleasing mottling of colors. They also look for fine polish and undistorted surface reflections. Clarity is important, too, because any fractures can strongly affect value.
The intensity of the colour of Jade will only change due to dirt or grease that can sometimes get trapped on the surface, or if the Jade piece has undergone colour treatment, gradually fading to its original state as time passes.
Black Jade may be of either variety, and may be colored with bits of graphite or iron oxide. Nephrite generally occurs in creamy white, mid- to deep olive green, brown and black. It has a smooth surface polish with a waxy sheen and is more commonly found.
Onyx contains bands of chalcedony in interchanging colors. Black jade is either a jadeite or nephrite variety of minerals and differs from black onyx in terms of chemical composition and structure.
Jadeite jade is a type of jade that is found in Myanmar, while nephrite jade is found in across the world. Nephrite jade is tougher and more durable than jadeite, making it more suitable for carving. However, jadeite can be more highly polished and has a higher luster than nephrite.
For jadeite, the intensity of the green color, combined with a high degree of translucency are the key factors in judging value. Stones which are too dark in color or not so translucent are less highly valued.
Green jade has been treasured in the Far East and Central America for thousands of years and was even given the status of royal gemstone by these ancient civilizations. The sacred stone is considered a sign of luck and good fortune. It is also associated with abundance, wealth, and prosperity.
The most sought after the colour of Jadeite is called the Imperial Green which is an Emerald like vivid green colour. It's closely followed by Lavender Jade which has a purplish blue hue.