Description
African Jade is a rich green translucent semi-precious gemstone, with inclusions that
vary from white to black, but it is not true jade. It resembles fine nephrite jade but it
is actually translucent green grossularite garnet mined from massive (in the geological
sense) deposits in Africa. It is sometimes referred to as 'Transvaal Jade' or 'South
African Jade'.
The Science
Properly called hydrogrossular, African Jade is a complex calcium aluminium silicate,
composed of massive grossularite garnet, coloured bright green by trace amounts of
chromium.
6.5 - 7.5 on the Moh's Hardness Scale
Care and Cleaning
Soft polishing cloth, plain water rinse or mild solution of soap and water.
History
Garnet of all colours, including African Jade, has been mined since 3100 B.C. and was
widely used by the Ancient Egyptians to make beads and inlays.