Transvaal jade

gem

Also known as: South African jade

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

Transvaal jade is a marketing term for a massive, greenish variety of grossular garnet. While it superficially resembles jade, it is not true jade, which is typically jadeite or nephrite. Grossular garnet is a calcium aluminum garnet that can be various colors, including green, yellow, brown, and red. The material marketed as Transvaal jade is often used to increase its selling price due to its resemblance to the more valuable jade. True jadeite, a prized gemstone, is a silicate mineral found in metamorphic rocks and is known for its vibrant green colors.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

grossular
…the name South African, or Transvaal, jade in an attempt to increase its selling price. Nearly all grossular used for faceted gems is orange to reddish brown. The reddish brown material is called cinnamon stone, or hessonite. Grossular typically exhibits internal swirls, which help to distinguish it from spessartine, which…
Read More
…the name South African, or Transvaal, jade in an attempt to increase its selling price. Nearly all grossular used for faceted gems is orange to reddish brown. The reddish brown material is called cinnamon stone, or hessonite. Grossular typically exhibits internal swirls, which help to distinguish it from spessartine, which…
Read More