Features & History Of Nephrite Stone Beads
                     Features Of Nephrite Stone Beads 
And Its History
  
Nephrite is actually a form of amphibole which in simpler words can be understood as a type of 
rock forming silicate that is generously distributed in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Earlier it 
was used for weapons and later were included in making ornaments. Nephrite is a type of jade 
stone and is considered as the oldest and truest Chinese jade. Though for a long time Nephrite 
and Jadeite were both considered as same and were not differentiated until 1863. But actually, 
they are two different types of jade stone and have similar properties as well as appearances 
but out of the two, nephrite is comparatively common and hence, less expensive too. 
Nephrite Stone Beads comes in limited colour range and rates at 6.5 on the hardness scale. 
Almost any Chinese carving that is over 230 years old, would probably be made of nephrite 
and in ancient China nephrite was commonly seen as the Stone of Heaven on the Yu stone. 
Moreover, it was a common myth and practice during ancient times to bury a person with 
specifically six nephrite jade figures to ensure that the person has a smooth passage to 
Heaven. 
  
  
Features Of the Nephrite Stone:  Nephrite is considered as one of the most durable 
gemstones, which is mostly explained by the fact the amphiboles are typically fibrous and in 
case of nephrite, its fibrous crystals interlock together which makes it even stronger than steel, 
rather the toughest of the many natural stones. In fact, the strength of nephrite stones is such 
that they cannot be chiselled and hence has to be grounded using abrasive which is why in 
earlier times people used it for making weapons. As far as the colour range of nephrite stone is 
concerned it varies in colours ranging from white, yellow, green to brown or even black. 
Usually nephrite is widely available in dark green colours include spinach or sage colours. 
Basically, the colour depends on the concentration of magnesium in a specific specimen which 
means that more the amount of magnesium in a specimen, the lighter its colour would be. The 
nephrite stone beads may be blotchy, banded or homogenous in colour but as nephrite is 
more translucent in nature it is widely sued for more intricately and delicately carved jewellery 
pieces like cameos. 
  
  
History Of The Nephrite Stone
Nephrite jade stone holds an important place in Russian history as well. It has been mined 
and crafted in Russia since approximately 3000 BC. The importance of the stone can be 
imagined by the fact that the sarcophagus of Czar Alexander III was also carved out of this 
stone. Nephrite jade was excavated from Kunlun Mountains of Northwest China from 5000 BC 
to 1700’s and China till date remains an important source for the mineral. Referred as squa or 
lisht, nephrite is a prized stone by the native North Americans of British Columbia, Canada 
and the stone has been prized there for more than 3000 years. In late 19th century, Chinese 
miners discovered large boulders of nephrite jade in California, they sent it back to China to 
be cut and carved. The Maori also used to carve nephrite into images of ancestral figure and 
were known as hei tiki. 
  
  
Some of the best quality nephrite stones are also found in locations like New Zealand, 
Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Poland, Zimbabwe and 
Brazil.
  
Nephrite stone since long is considered as a really important jade stone and continues to be 
one of the most favoured gemstones till date. Charming people with its multiple advantages 
and beneficial properties always look to buy good quality nephrite stone beads online; visit 
Ratna Sagar Jewels.
  
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