Jadeitite is ametamorphic rock found inblueschist-grade metamorphicterranes. It is found in isolatedmetasomatically altered rock units withinserpentinite associated withsubduction zone environments. Jadeitite consists almost entirely of thepyroxene mineraljadeite and is typically mined as a source of the ornamental rock orgemstone,jade. Occurrences includeMyanmar,Guatemala,Japan,Kazakhstan and in theCoast Ranges of western North America.
Over 100 axe heads made from jadeitite quarried in northern Italy in theNeolithic era have been found across the British Isles.[1][2] Because of the difficulty of working this material, all the axe heads of this type found are thought to have been non-utilitarian and to have represented some form of currency or be the products of gift exchange.[3]
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