What's the Difference: Jade, New Jade, Bowenite and Serpentine

There is an awful lot of misrepresentation of these minerals online. It's no wonder, as jade has been prized for thousands of years for its beauty and durability.

What is Jade?

Jade is a term used to describe two different types of minerals: jadeite and nephrite. Both minerals are typically green in colour, although they can also be found in other colours, such as white, grey, black, and even purple.

Jadeite is the rarer and more valuable of the two minerals and is found primarily in Myanmar (formerly Burma). It is a pyroxene mineral that is composed of sodium and aluminium silicate. Jadeite is known for its high translucency and vivid green colour.

Nephrite is more commonly found than jadeite and is typically less expensive. It is a variety of the mineral actinolite composed of calcium and magnesium silicate. Nephrite is found in many parts of the world, including China, Canada, and New Zealand. It is known for its toughness and is often used for carving and other decorative purposes.

What is Serpentine?

Serpentine is a group of minerals that typically have a green colour and are composed of hydrous magnesium silicate. The name "serpentine" comes from the mineral's scaly appearance, which resembles serpent scales.

This mineral group is widespread and can be found in many parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, China, and Italy. It is often used for decorative purposes and can be carved into figurines, vases, and other ornaments.

Some serpentines are widely used as a jade simulant.

What is Bowenite and New Jade?

New jade is another name for bowenite. Bowenite is a type of metamorphic rock that is composed of the mineral serpentine. It is known for its green colour, caused by the presence of chromium and other trace elements.

Summary

• Jadeite and nephrite are both varieties of jade.
• Serpentine is not jade but is used as a jade simulant.
• New jade and bowenite are the same, and they are a variety of serpentine.