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pies. Nephrite in New Zealand is worked by Maoris, and jadeite in
Burmah by the Burmese, in the same way as by the inhabitants of
Europe in prehistoric times. Jade holds first rank in China, where it
is called "yu" and used not only for personal ornaments, but for
vases, sword handles, plates, bowls, idols and the like.
Nephrite is known as axe-stone, because frequently found fashioned
into axe-heads and also ;
kidney-stone, worn as a charm against
kidney diseases, whence its name. Rings are cut out of it solid. The
composition of nephrite is exactly the same as actinolite, in the Zillerthal,
Tyrol. Hardness, specific gravity, cleavage, color agree perfectly,
but the fibres of nephrite are finer and more compact. Never
found in crystalline form, it occurs in large blocks, which cannot
be broken as a whole by a hammer. They must be subjected to sudden
changes of temperature, heated, then suddenly plunged into cold
water. By this means, it is made to crack, when a blow finishes the
job.
Ancient prehistoric implements are found mostly in Switzerland,
near Lake Constance, Zurich, Brienne, Neutchatel, left by cavedwellers.
Jadeite remains are more common all over Europe than
nephrite.
In China, the favorite variety of "yu" is a pure milk-white,
with a soapy lustre and feel. Pebbles of this quality run as high as
$150. A small green stone, suitable for a seal, will fetch the same
from a Chinese merchant in Burmah. The task of working such
material is arduous. It is not cheap in China still less so in ; Europe
particularly when carved.
Chemically, jadeite is similar to spodumene. The microscope
shows an irregularly interwoven mass of fine fibres. Hence its toughness.
Jadeite in itself is colorless, and many natural specimens are
almost white. Often there is a tinge of rose-red or some light shade
of color, such as pale gray, greenish white, bluish green, leek green,
apple green. Some are white, with more or less sharply defined spots
of fine emerald green, due to the presence of a small amount of
chromium. A uniform shade of pale green is due to iron. Jadeite is
found in Upper Burmah. The best specimens are from river boul-
ders, but it is also quarried out of solid rock At the quarry fires
are lighted, then the blocks are cooled by night air, which renders
them more easily broken up, but it injures the specimens. Most of
these are sent overland by mules to China, but some find their way
to Lower Burmah, where minerals in a natural state are wholly
absent.
Nephrite is found mostly in Asia and New Zealand. There is
some in Alaska, but jadeite is more common in America, as well
as Europe. In the rough, chloromelanite never yet has been met
with. Always it is found in ancient articles, accompanying jadeite
implements, in France, Switzerland and Mexico. It may be considered
a jadeite rich in iron, and of a correspondingly dark color,
a green which is almost black.
Much of the jade that comes from China is said to be prehnite,
whose hardness is not above 6.5, sometimes lower, and specific grav-
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