Nephrite

     Calcium Magnesium Iron Silicate Hydroxide Ca₂ (Mg, Fe)₅[Si₄O₁₁]₂[OH]₂
     Color: mainly green, various shades (from bright and apple-green up to bluish and olive), white (opaque, "water"-white, transparent, yellowish), gray and black. Color of a nephrite is caused by chromophor elements: Cr³⁺ - (green differences), Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺ (gray-green, yellowish and others). Relative concentration of the specified ions causes various color of a nephrite. Frequently coloring of a nephrite is non-uniform, spotty, stripped.
     Hardness: 5.5 - 6.5 on Mohs scale.
     Density: 2.8 - 3.3 gr/sm³; grows with increase of the contents of oxide iron.
     Break: rough.
     Shine: glass, sometimes fat.
     Transparency: breaks and plates of thickness of 1 - 1.5 sm are transparent. Fragments of more then 1.5 sm are opaque.
     In an antiquity considered, that the nephrite has many medical properties: brings calm, cures kidneys illnesses. It has received the name from Greek "nephros" - a kidney. Small on the size of a pebble of a nephrite on appearance remind a kidney. Surprising properties of a nephrite - its fortress (viscosity, resistance to rubbing, nephrite is twice more strong some steel), and to influence of acids for a long time drew to it attention of the person. Archeological researches find out wares from a nephrite, concerning to a neolith. The nephrite in Ancient China where it was appreciated so highly had especially big popularity, that of it made plates, having the worth with coins. Well-known Chinese carved products all over the world are known: vases, bowls, jewelry boxes, figures of animals, pagodas, spheres, jewels.
     The nephrite up to middle of 18 centuries was imported into Russia from China. In middle of 19 centuries Permikin G.M. found the boulders of a nephrite, and then, deposit were found in Eastern-Sajan mountains.
     After the Second World war in territory of Russia new deposits in East and Western Sajan, Dgiginskiy region of Buryatiya, in the north of Krasnoyarsk Region and Polar Ural were found. The majority of deposits of a nephrite concern to metasomathic type. In Vitimskiy region the new genetic type of deposits connected with carbon ores and described by extremely rare white, light blue, salad and light green coloring of a nephrite is found out. Deposits of a nephrite in East Sajan, Vitimskiy region of Transbaikalia and on Polar Ural are extracted from opencast.
     Products from a nephrite are used the popularity in Russia and abroad. Shopmasters make vases, jewelry boxes, rings, bracelets, a beads, cabochons, jewelry and another. The nephrite is decoratively - ornamental material for incrustation of mosaic panels, ornaments of interiors etc. The nephrite is appreciated for deep both equal tone of coloring and ability to accept mirror polishing is used.

Nephrite gemstone wares:

Jewelry sets