Faceted jadeite is a metasomatic mineral, a relatively rare pyroxene. Its name is ancient, likely derived from the Spanish word for “kidney stone,” pronounced “jade” in French. Most researchers believe jadeite formed at moderate temperatures and pressures through a complex, multi-stage metasomatism process along cracks in serpentinites.
Jadeite is a nearly monomineralic rock and expands and contracts uniformly when heated, without cracking.
The 70-150mm fraction is ideal for wood-burning stoves and provides impeccable steam quality and durability.
One undeniable advantage of jadeite, like other pyroxenites, is its exceptional strength and hardness. This makes its extraction and subsequent mechanical processing quite challenging.