SALMON RIVER RESTORATION COUNCIL

WEBSTORE

Rex Richardson and Salmon River Jade
530-462-4760 or Sarah@srrc.org

For information on purchasing chatoyant tremolite, green nephrite, or black nephrite, contact Salmon River Jade at 530-462-4760 or Sarah@srrc.org

Rex Richardson 14500 Salmon River RD Forks of Salmon CA 96031

We particularly love the Green and brown shades of  nephrite from the Salmon River area because they are the color of the river.  Slabs, cut blocks and pendants available

Nephrite Jade

Nephrite is a form of jade.  The term jade is used to describe two distinct minerals-nephrite and jadeite. They may be similar in appearance, but belong to different mineralogical groups. Nephrite jade belongs to the amphibole group, and jadeite belongs to the pyroxene group.       

 Nephrite is a monoclinic amphibole that ranges between the end members-tremolite (iron poor), and ferroactinolite (iron rich). As more magnesium is substituted with iron, darker shades occur. The color range we have found on the Salmon River includes, white, lavender, light green, spinach green, blue-green, olive green, green-grey, brown and black.  Custom orders and polished blanks are available. Theoretically, pure jade, both nephrite and jadeite, should be white.  Chatoyant tremolite is bright white shifting to translucent clear-gray. It is suitable for jewelry and sculpture. Custom orders and polished blanks are available.

 Nephrite is the toughest mineral, composed of interlocking, fibrous meshwork. This characteristic has been used and appreciated by humans for thousands of years. It was fashioned into ornaments, tools and weapons by Neolithic people and has been used for religious tokens by Aztec, Maya, and Maori cultures. Tribal groups in New Zealand have used nephrite as a talisman of protection against attack or illness. The Chinese have revered jade above all other gemstones and it has a large place in Chinese history. Some of the oldest sites, such as one in Siberia, extend people’s use of jade back beyond 5000 BC. In Northern Europe, Neolithic jade tools and weapons are testimony to lasting utility and beauty.

 chatoyant tremolite blocks from the Salmon River

Chatoyant Tremolite

Discovered in Northern California
Appearance: White shifts to translucent clear
Hardness: 6.0 Mohs scale
Gemstone suitable for sculpture and jewelry
Vein up to 3” wide- veinlets flow through tremolite/nephrite at ultrabasic serpentinite contact with metavolcanic

Custom orders and polished blanks available

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