Content area

Abstract

Zibai Jade is a recently identified hydrogrossular-dominant jade originating from Shaanxi Province, China. It constitutes a polymineralic aggregate composed predominantly of hydrogrossular, with minor proportions of vesuvianite, diopside, chlorite, uvarovite, and calcite. A multi-method analytical approach was employed to characterize this jade, incorporating conventional gemological testing, polarizing microscopy, SEM, XRD, BSE, XRF, and EPMA, as well as UV-Vis and infrared (IR). These techniques enabled a detailed examination of its mineralogy, surface features, and color origin. The stone displays a heterogeneous color distribution, featuring a base hue of light green to yellowish-green, accompanied by distinct occurrences of emerald-green spots, dark green spots, mossy green inclusions, white patches, white veinlets, and a black dot with a green ring. Microanalytical results indicate that the emerald-green spots are principally composed of uvarovite; the dark green spots are dominated by hydrogrossular, diopside, and chlorite; fibrous green inclusions consist mainly of chlorite and Cr-bearing grossular; white patches and veinlets are primarily composed of calcite; and the black dot with a green ring predominantly comprises chromite and uvarovite. Coloration is attributed to the combined influence of Fe and Cr3+. The formation of Zibai Jade involved three mineralization stages: deposition of a carbonate protolith, high-temperature metasomatism, and retrograde alteration. The metasomatism was driven by hydrothermal fluids derived from granodioritic and ultramafic rocks, which provided Si, Al, and the essential Cr, respectively. The interplay of these processes resulted in the development of Zibai Jade, which exhibits a dense texture and attractive coloration.

Details

1009240
Business indexing term
Title
Mineralogical and Gemological Characteristics and Color Genesis of Zibai Jade
Publication title
Crystals; Basel
Volume
15
Issue
10
First page
871
Number of pages
18
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
Place of publication
Basel
Country of publication
Switzerland
Publication subject
e-ISSN
20734352
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
Document type
Journal Article
Publication history
 
 
Online publication date
2025-10-08
Milestone dates
2025-09-16 (Received); 2025-10-06 (Accepted)
Publication history
 
 
   First posting date
08 Oct 2025
ProQuest document ID
3265855098
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/mineralogical-gemological-characteristics-color/docview/3265855098/se-2?accountid=208611
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.
Last updated
2025-10-28
Database
ProQuest One Academic