Jade: properties, colors, types and applications

Since ancient times, precious and semiprecious stones were highly valued - in the era of the absence of plastic and other bright and durable materials, it was these minerals that diluted the grayness and uniformity of life. One of the most famous stones has always been jade, which today enjoys some popularity.

The description of the jade should begin with the fact that, in its raw form, this gem looks relatively inconspicuous - a modern person could mistakenly take it for a piece of green bottle glass of a strange shape. Moreover, such a mineral is much stronger than glass (in this regard, it surpasses even granite), but it is curious that the processing of stone is relatively simple. The resulting products show impressive durability, not to mention the fact that when polished, a piece of jade acquires very delicate green overflows interspersed with other shades - this makes it a jewel.

Because of its reliability, the mineral could have practical value, for example, in Ancient Egypt, household items were sometimes made from it, although, of course, they were expensive. In addition to the jewelry itself, jade chips were also used to strew clothes. Sometimes very large crystals were used even in the construction of buildings.

In chemical terms, jade is a complex compound whose composition includes atoms of calcium, magnesium, iron, silicon, hydrogen and oxygen. The resulting rock is characterized by high viscosity at the level of steel and similar strength.

Jade in public opinion is often associated with shades of green and this is really the most common color, but the color range of the mineral is much wider. In fact, the stone can even be white or black, although light greenish notes are almost always present.

What is curious the most valuable is considered to be a pale green variety with a characteristic oily sheen and significant transparency. In this case, the thickness of the stone may not allow light at all until a large piece is cut into thinner plates. Among other things, jade also has a high heat capacity, so it can be productively used as a heating pad.

In order for jade (and some other minerals similar to it) to form, it is necessary that the red-hot magma penetrate the sedimentary rock deposits - this is the most common way that geologists recognized it. Alternatively, the same magma should penetrate into serpentinite deposits.

Jade deposits are inextricably linked with shale and marble deposits. As a rule, this mineral is mined either in placers at the bottom of ponds with flowing water, or in jade quarries. Industrial gem mining is possible on any of the continents. In Russia, the current fame Ospinskoye field, as well as the exhausted Ulan-Khodinsky. In addition, there are sources of valuable mineral and in Tuva, and in the Northern Urals, and in neighboring Kazakhstan.

If we consider other states, then a lot of high-quality jade is mined in New Zealand - there the stones are good not only from a practical, but also from an aesthetic point of view. Large deposits are located and in North America - in the states of Alaska, Montana, California and Washington, as well as in Canada. Another major jade miner is China.

In different cultures and at different times, jade could have different meanings, but in many regions it was perceived and is perceived as a symbol of power. The soft green tones of many nations are associated with life, respectively, such power is kind, it protects its people from troubles.

In China, this stone is considered literally a national symbol, it is still very common as a popular material for making gift souvenirs. The Chinese believe that jade is able to change human behavior, because often they hand over products with printed symbols of one or another good. So, a peach applied to a jade product symbolizes longevity, fish means wealth, a bat is a wish for good luck, etc.

In general, in the East, jade was associated with harmony, tranquility, and deliverance from worldly vanity. This is not surprising, because Psychologists have long proved that green tones in the design of something have a pronounced calming effect. In Europe, deep jade greens were associated with another: a specific shade was associated with magic, because the stone was in demand by fortune-tellers and other mystifiers.

The New Zealand Aboriginal Maori people made extensive use of jade products in their religious rituals. Representatives of this nationality still consider this stone to be one of the main symbols of their native country, and since 1997, the local government even transferred all local deposits of this stone to the management of the indigenous islanders.

Since ancient times, various healing and even magical properties have been attributed to this mineral, which made the stone even more expensive.The modern name of the breed comes from the Greek word "kidneys", in particular, because the mineral was actively used to treat diseases of this organ and bladder. The beneficial properties of jade for the body are also in a positive psychological effect - jade product eliminates any anxiety, insomnia and nightmares.

The real beneficial effect of jade is that he, unlike many other stones, is never cold - this breed holds heat perfectly. Before using it as a heating pad, it is additionally heated, but then it retains the set temperature for a long time and allows you to warm up the abdominal cavity, which with many symptoms really has a beneficial effect.

Among other things, even today you can get a massage session performed with the help of special jade balls. It is noted that from a cosmetic point of view, the skin condition is clearly improving.

Jade is also still in use. in various magical rituals. According to the Chinese concept of the universe, this stone symbolizes the transparency of Heaven and the firmness of the Earth. Among other things, it is also a symbol of Eternity and Wisdom. Confucius, being a philosopher, and not a magician, endowed jade products with the ability to reveal the mental abilities of the owner, as well as help maintain prudence and a humane approach in all situations.

In the European tradition, jade is more a way of connecting with other worlds. Some authorities in the world of magic and esotericism claim that this stone is also an excellent counteraction to any natural disasters. If we talk about an individual person, then for him it is a good amulet from the evil eye, he also effectively protects against enemies and getting into a bad company. Jade also allegedly contributes to building strong and trusting relationships within the family.

The color scheme of jade is very extensive: contrary to popular belief, it does not have to be green at all. Classification of species is often done according to the color of the stone, and it happens in a variety of shades, and such color “anomalies” are also perceived differently.

• White jade It looks very unusual, on the part of the product from it reminiscent of melting ice with its characteristic brilliance. Moreover, such a mineral (which is already rare) does not happen to be pure white at all - in its structure there are almost always grayish, slightly yellow and greenish hues.

• Green jade is the most famous, but this does not make it the least popular. In particular, for various purposes of a magical nature, such a stone is required - its shade in the popular sense is inextricably linked with the supernatural. Most of the Chinese beliefs associated with jade amulets also relate specifically to green varieties of material.

• Black stone It has only a slightly noticeable greenish tint. This variety is also rare, and any specific properties are attributed to it extremely rarely. The main application of such material is the jewelry industry.

It should be noted that thanks to extraneous impurities, the color of the jade crystal can be absolutely any - in nature there are even red, blue or pink versions of the stone. In this case, impurities are rarely uniform, where more often they act as well-visible foreign inclusions. Of course, homogeneous material is valued above all, especially if it is characterized by a bright tone and a high degree of transparency.

The spotted version, provided that the spots are uniform and scattered evenly, can also look good. Stones with situational inclusions are usually not valued too high. - an extraneous fragment spoils the overall impression of the crystal. At the same time, specific patterns on the surface of a piece of jade can be successfully beaten by jewelers who will further emphasize the beauty of Mother Nature’s design.

In antiquity, a variety of products were made from jade: in regions where there was no shortage of such material, its strength was highly valued, therefore even tools could be made from minerals. Today, globalization has led to an increase in demand for this stone, but its reserves, of course, have not increased, therefore now they usually make jewelry or various talismans and amulets from it. Both product options should be considered in more detail.

Apparently, this stone debuted as a talisman or amulet before: as we see from history, both China and Europe attributed special properties to it. It is generally accepted that it is a very effective amulet against failure and misfortune of any kind. Such a product can be especially effective for single people if white grade.

Children are often given a jade pendant that depicts a castle. This is a kind of symbol of life, a wish for health and longevity. For adults who want to reach career heights without compromising family life, it’s best white jade inlaid ring.

Jade amulets are also good because they are credited with the ability to enhance the positive effects of other jewelry with esoteric connotations. The mineral itself supposedly stimulates the work of the mind, and also provokes manifestations of courage. This is not a stone for which large size is fundamentally important, on the contrary, products of modest sizes help the owner to overtake rivals and quickly climb up.

A separate use of jade is as a material for various jewelry items, especially for women. Beautiful green color with transparent tints or even extraneous “muddy” impregnations from ancient times people like, because even in ancient times this mineral was used in the manufacture of jewelry. Today, jade inserts are present in rings and bracelets, pendants and beads are made of them, and this is not always the case with the green variety. If we talk about larger jewelry, then on sale you can find jade figurinescapable of decorating any refined interior.

In addition to the above areas of application, another use of jade is allowed. It was already mentioned above that this stone perfectly retains heat, at least due to this it is used by various traditional healers in the form of an analog of a heating pad or for a specific therapeutic massage.

Jade refers to those stones that theoretically suit representatives of any zodiac sign, although experts on esotericism warn: This mineral is capable of drastically changing your life, therefore, a person who has chosen this particular material for a talisman or decoration should be ready for sudden changes in everyday life.

• If we are guided by the signs of the zodiac, then best of all, according to experts, jade suitable for Libra - he calms them and balances. However, not everything is so simple, because the representatives of this zodiac sign need not just green, but a white version of the stone.

• Jade products are also very useful for Dev. - they supposedly should help in establishing family life, as they are responsible for love. Another thing is that for the described result you need an even more rare red stone. The fire-colored mineral will have a different effect - your professional initiatives will be appreciated by the authorities.

• For Crayfish and Pisces the most recommended are also unusual jade shades - they give the owner of a talisman of strength and energy for new achievements.

• Capricorn - the only sign of the zodiac, which is recommended classic green jade, the most common in nature. Such a stone has a calming effect on the representatives of this zodiac sign - they become less aggressive and impulsive, so that the probability of achieving the set goals is significantly increased.

• Despite the fact that jade is considered to be a universal stone, least suitable for such signs of the zodiac as Taurus and Sagittarius.

The modern world is distinguished by a special feature - there are many fakes in it, only imitating the original. On the one hand, this is good, because poor people can now also wear decent-looking jewelry, on the other hand, fraudsters can fool an inexperienced person by selling him cheap goods at an expensive price. In addition to natural crystalline jade, there is at least at least two options for faking it.

The first in chemical composition is still the same jade, only made from jade dust by pressing - with all other correspondences, such a production method, of course, does not give the expected strength and durability.

Since natural jade is not so cheap when buying You can verify its authenticity in one of several ways.

• Natural stone is no less solid than steel and it’s impossible to scratch it with a needle. The pressed block, not to mention plastic, always gives in to such an impact. There is real jade, scratched by a needle, but conclusions about its quality are not difficult.
• At the moment of first touch Jade will surely seem cool, unless stored in a hot room. Try warming it in the palm of your hand, and then set it aside. After a few minutes, check how the temperature of the mineral has changed: if it is real, then after 5 minutes it will still be warm.
• If you get jade beads, it is possible to check the degree of naturalness of raw materials using sound. Here, of course, experience would not hurt, but in general they say that when two real jade beads collide, the resulting sound should turn out to be melodic.
• In case your jade product is thin enoughTo let the light through, take a closer look at it. In the bright rays of a real mineral in the thickness, clearly visible interlaced "fibers" should be visible.

Conscientious sellers may not hide the fact that their product is artificial. At the same time, the properties of plastic are known to every modern person, but as for pressed jewelry made of crumbs and dust, opinions differ. On the one hand, it is still the same mineral, therefore its magical and healing properties must be preserved even despite a partial loss of strength.

On the other hand, you need to understand that a compressed stone would hardly remain integral, therefore, into the mass for a fixing effect add various extraneous ingredients like glue or plasticdue to which many properties, even purely physical ones, are lost.

Jade products are famous for their strength and durability, but if the owner wants to keep the little thing in its original beautiful form, there should still be minimal care for it. Difficulties with this usually do not arise, since impact-resistant material is difficult to deform (except that you have a product with very tiny details), and scratching it with something sharp is quite difficult.

Nevertheless, it is not recommended to store the precious product anywhere, for such purposes it is best to use a special hard box, upholstered from the inside with a soft-touch cloth. As an alternative storage location, you can use a special fabric bag made of a dense material, such as felt.

Like most stones, jade does not absorb pollution, but sometimes it is necessary to wipe its surface from dust and adhering dirt to restore its original shine and transparency. It is better not to experiment with caustic detergents, but an ordinary soap solution for such needs is quite suitable, but even at the end of the procedure it is necessary to carefully rinse it under clean running water.

In addition, the following video will tell about jade and its properties.