Jade Sources
Jadeite and nephrite occur all over the world. Learn about the most notable and productive gem-quality jade sources..
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Principal Jadeite Jade Sources
The principal producers of gem-quality jadeite are Myanmar and Guatemala.
Myanmar
The primary source of the highest quality jadeite, Myanmar (formerly Burma) supplies more than 95% of the jadeite on the market. Material from Myanmar can easily command prices ten times higher than jadeite from other sources.
A region in the northern part of Myanmar known as the “Jade Tract” contains a cluster of jadeite mines. The town of Hpakan is the center of the jadeite mining district. Miners can find jadeite as large pod-like bodies in massive serpentinite deposits within the Jade Tract. In the alluvial and eluvial deposits that flow from those primary deposits, they can find jadeite in sizes ranging from pebbles to boulders.
Guatemala
Guatemala produces green jadeite. However, it typically has a darker tone and grayer saturation than material from Myanmar. Guatemala also produces rare blue jadeite.
Recently, Guatemala’s Motagua Valley has
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Gaurav Agrawal
International Gem Society
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