Jade is a kind ofstone. We use the name "jade" for two different sorts ofmineral. The first sort isnephrite. This is a form of actinolite (asbestos is a sort of actinolite, too). The second sort is the mineraljadeite, and it is a pyroxene. The first sort (nephrite) is harder than the second sort (jadeite). The first sort (jadeite) has more colors that the second sort (nephrite).
Nephrite is Ca2(Mg, Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2. Jadeite is NaAlSi2O6.
The two sorts of jade look nearly the same. People only found that they were two different sorts in 1863. The nephrite form of jade is very hard. In the past, Chinese people and the Maori used it to makeknives andweapons. Later, when people could usemetals, they liked jade because it looked nice and they thought it had special powers. Today people also use jade for jewelry.
Jade was found about 7000 years ago. The Chinese later made jewelry out of it. Only the rich could have jade because it was so rare and expensive. It was said that jade had healing powers and it was regarded as very lucky.
