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Jadeite (Photo) [abbr. Jd ]

Year of discovery: 1863 (Myanmar), 1939 (Japan)

Locality list: 59 localities of jadeite

• NaAlSi₂O₆
• Na(Al,Fe³⁺)Si₂O₆
• [Na⁺][Al³⁺][(SiO₃)₂]^4-
• CaMgFe/(CaMgFe+NaAlFe)=0-0.2

• Class: Na pyroxene group < Pyroxene supergroup
• Class: Inosilicate (Single chain)
• Variety: Chromejadeite (+Cr)
• Insoluble in: HCl

• CaMgFe/(CaMgFe+NaAlFe) > 0.2: Omphacite

• Na => Li: Spodumene

• Al => Fe: Aegirine (Series)
• Al => Mn: Namansilite
• Al => Cr: Kosmochlor
• Al => V: Natalyite
• Al => Sc: Jervisite

• Color: White, Pale green
• Streak: White
• Luster: Vitreous
• Diaphaneity: Transparent-Translucent

• Habit: Acicular, Prismatic

• Cleavage: Good on {110} (2 planes, 90 degree)
• Hardness: 6
• Density: 3.3

• System: Monoclinic
• Group: 2/m, C2/c
• Lattice: a=9.4, b=8.6, c=5.2, β=107.6

Etymology: Piedra de hijada (Stone of waist) in old Spanish