jade: Quick Facts

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Photos

Uncut (left) and cut jadeite.

Chinese jade blade, Late Neolithic period to early Shang period, c. 2000–1000 bce; in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Mayan ear disks

Jade horse head

dagger with a horse-head handle

Dragon among clouds, carved jade medallion or button, Ch'ing dynasty, probably late 18th century (reign of Ch'ien-lung); in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London

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Topics

jadeite nephrite chloromelanite Chinese jade gemstone garnet opal topaz turquoise jasper zircon amethyst kyanite chrysoberyl lapis lazuli

Basalt sample returned by Apollo 15, from near a long sinous lunar valley called Hadley Rille. Measured at 3.3 years old.

(Bed) Rocks and (Flint) Stones