[Jewelry making - Article 00112] - Re: [Orchid] What is Koren Jade ?

[dlevin]

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    The responses on Korean Jade seemed confusing to me so I thought I'd
    try to contribute either to clearing it up or confusing it more.  As
    I understand it, the "mutton fat" Korean Jade is a nephrite that is
    closer to the tremolite side than the actinolite. Tremolite, as I've
    read, is at the whiter range of nephrite while actinolite is at the
    greener.  Actinolite crystals are a wonderful blue/green.  So if the
    original reference of Koren Jade was to the lighter colored material,
    it is probably a nephrite jade rather than a serpentine, which is
    much softer.  In any case it is not jadeite. 

    It is also my understanding that the mining on this material stopped
    quite some time ago because whatever of it might be left is under the
    DMZ between North and South Korea. 

    The stuff is in fact lovely to cut and takes a polish with
    incredible ease. 

Derek Levin


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