Lavender jade
Variety NaAlSi2O6
About it
Jadeite in soft lavender to violet, coloured by manganese and iron. Mainly from Myanmar; much on the market is dyed, so the colour is worth checking.
- Type
- Variety
- Group
- Jadeite variety (pyroxene)
- Formula
- NaAlSi2O6
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 6.5–7
- Specific gravity
- 3.24–3.43
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy), greasy
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- lavender, pale violet
- Transparency
- translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- good prismatic, but massive jade is very tough; splintery fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.