6.0 - 6.5 on the Mohs scale.

Turkestan, Central Asia, Myanmar, Siberia, Russia, China, New Zealand, Australia, North America, Canada (BC), Brazil, Taiwan, Zimbabwe, Italy, Poland, Germany and Switzerland.

Two distinct minerals are commonly called Jade, namely Jadeite and Nephrite. Jadeite appears in many shades of green, colorless, orangish to brownish red, yellow, light to grayish blue, gray, pink, lilac and dark purple. Nephrite, very similar in appearance to Jadeite Jade, is also found in various shades of green, although darker. Other colors are gray, bluish gray, and grayish white. Serpentine, another distinct mineral, also jade-like in appearance is often mistakenly called Jade, or Serpentine Jade and not as valuable.

Nephrite is rarely selectively dyed to alter color for artistic purposes in carvings.

More information on gemstone enhancements.

Nephrite is a member of the Jade gemstone family.