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Interesting Facts

Jade symbolises all that is high and pure for the Chinese, and it is revered above all other gemstones.	Big Papa is the name of the world's largest nephrite boulder. Weighing in at 152 tonne, it was discovered in British Columbia, Canada.
A major new source of jadeite was discovered in Burma 1784. Today the rugged mountainous region of Mogaung in northern Myanmar (formerly Burma) produces the majority of world's jewellery grade jadeite.	The ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius said "The wise have likened jade to virtue". He also said "Jade is a reminder of the integrity of mind and soul".
Jade is known as the 'Stone of the Loins' in China, and in ancient times was believed to have had strong medicinal powers.	New Zealand's first recorded nephrite jade boulder was found in the Hohonu River, between Greymouth and Hokitika, on the West Coast of the South Island in 1864.
Astrologically, nephrite is said to bring luck, success and a good reputation.	The area around Marsden on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand has produced what is generally recognised as producing the best greenstone ever found in New Zealand.
In antiquity, nephrite was especially highly regarded when worn as a heart-shaped amulet (good luck charm) or in the image of a god.	Medieval physicians gave jade the name of 'lapis nephriticus' meaning stone for the kidneys. This is believed to have evolved into nephrite from the Greek word 'nephros' meaning kidney.
Nephrite has a hardness of 5.5-6.5 on the Mohs scale compared to diamonds with a hardness of 10. The only thing that can work jade is diamond.	New Zealand nephrite jade isn't mined; it's all alluvial and is usually discovered on or near the coast often after heavy rain. The boulders would have been originally swept down from the mountains beneath glaciers and carried by huge ice sheets in ancient times.
Nephrite has the ability to withstand pressure of eight tonne per square centimetre due to its amazing inherent strength provided by the interwoven fibrous tufts.	French mineralogist Alexis Damour analysed bright green jades from Burma in 1863. When he correctly concluded the samples were different from what was called Chinese jade (usually nephrite or amphibole jade), Damour named the mineral jadeite.
Kidney-shaped nephrite pieces are still worn today for their (believed) soothing effect and the alleviation of kidney disorders.	Modern Chinese still wear nephrite amulets (good luck charms) in the shape of storks. Storks are said to be messengers of God with the ability to take a man to heaven.
The olden-day Maori of New Zealand prized pounamu for its strength and durability and used it for tools and weapons before it began to lose favour due to the introduction of metal tools and weapons by European whalers, sealers and traders around 1800.	Along with emerald, opal, moonstone, pearl, chalcedony and chrysoprase, nephrite is one of the gemstones for those born under the sign of Cancer. Cancerians wear nephrite as a symbol of hope.
18th Century Chinese Emperor Qianlong is said to have started that country's fascination with jadeite following its discovery in Burma in 1768. He wrote poems to the Stone of Heaven, had it carved into a huge variety of objects and even ate crushed jadeite to improve the flow of his chi.	Jadeite can be semi-transparent to opaque and covers the spectrum from colourless through white, green, yellow, brown, red, orange, violet, lavender, grey and black in colour.
There are eight main varieties of New Zealand nephrite; kahurangi, inanga, kokopu, kawakawa, totoweka, raukaraka, kahotea and flower jade.	Nephrite comes in many shades of green; apple, grass, sage and olive greens and sometimes has yellowish, creamy or bluish inclusions. There is also white nephrite but pure white colour is rare.
In medieval times, nephrite was ground up and eaten as a paste to give relief to sufferers of nephritis (kidney stones).	The Chinese consider jade unites the five cardinal virtues of charity, modesty, courage, justice and wisdom.
The black jade found in the desert west of Cowell in South Australia is actually a very deep, dense green. Its colour is revealed when carved thinly to allow light to penetrate.	When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in Central America in the early 15th Century they found that the Aztecs prized jade more than gold.
According to an old Chinese proverb 'Gold is valuable but jade is invaluable'.	All of New Zealand's nephrite resources were returned the Ngai Tahu ownership in 1997 with control and guardianship given to two Ngai Tahu sub-tribes; Kati Waewae in North Westland and Kati Mahaki in South Westland.
The largest alluvial nephrite boulder ever found in New Zealand (possibly the world) was discovered by Brian Nicholson at Mission Creek, Westland, in May 1970. It weighted eight thousand pounds (approximately four tonne).	Jade carving was highly advanced in both the Olmec and Mayan civilisations of Central America by 1000BC.
The Chinese term yu refers not only to jade but also to softer stones such as serpentine, steatite, pyrophyllite, muscovite, olivine and sillimanite; all these minerals have been identified among early Chinese 'jades'.	Jade is the traditional gemstone to mark a 12th wedding anniversary as well as the traditional gift (along with coral) for a 35th wedding anniversary.
In gemstone therapy, jade is believed to stimulate creativity and mental agility whilst also having a balancing and harmonizing effect.

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