Clades:
Amphiboles;
Inosilicates.
Chemical: Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2.
Crystal system: Monoclinic.
Culture:Nephrite is also the official state mineral of Wyoming.
Use: ornamental stone used in carvings, beads, or cabochon cut gemstones.
MineralogyNephrite is a variety of the calcium, magnesium, and iron-rich amphibole minerals tremolite or actinolite.
It is one of two different mineral species called jade. The other mineral species known as jade is jadeite, which is a variety of pyroxene.
Color: mainly grays, greens, occasionally yellows, browns, whites.
Related: jadeite jade, which is rarer, can also contain blacks, reds, pinks and violets.