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jadeA hard ornamental stone, usually in varying shades of green, but sometimes almost white, and occasionally in other colours including red and black. There are, in fact, two minerals, geologically different but superficially similar, both of which are called jade: nephrite (silicate of calcium and magnesium) and jadeite (silicate of aluminium and sodium). In the areas where jade occurs naturally, notably Chinese Turkestan and Central America, it has been prized since prehistoric times and carved into amulets, ritual implements, figurines, etc. Images |
