NEPHRITE
Fibrous actinolite or tremolite; hard and extremely tough, the classical jade predating jadeite jade and much revered by the ancient Chinese; translucent to nearly opaque; many hues, but seldom as vivid as jadeite, include near-white, tan, yellow, brown, brownish-red, yellow-green, olive-green, dark green to nearly black, etc. Formerly from Khotan, the ancient Chinese source, and from Siberia and Silesia; specimens from these sources are occasionally found in old collections. Currently supplied in large quantities from Alaska, British Columbia, Wyoming, California, and New Zealand. The Chinese prized the off-white Khotan “mutton fat” nephrite, but it is little esteemed in the West; the most valuable nephrites are now the bright greens from Wyoming and New Zealand without traces of olive; as the latter hue appears, the value decreases. “Black” jade from Wyoming is also prized but in reality is a type of very dark olive-green nephrite. The Wyoming fine greens are now very scarce. Unworked material from New Zealand prohibited from export.