Where in Russia is jade of varying quality mined?

History of the stone

Jade processing began in the Neolithic. The stone was used to make weapons, tools, and religious objects. Later they began to make jewelry and household items from the mineral.

Helpful information

Jade was valued by the Mayan people during their wars, making figurines from it. They were broken to free the spirit of the stone so that it would help the owner of the house.

Previously, jade was called jade. The name was changed in 1863, but another mineral, jadeite, has almost the same name. Compared to jade, it is rarer and more valuable. Both minerals are very similar, in China they are still considered the same thing.

The modern name of jade comes from the Greek language, which means “kidney”. The mineral is also called Chinese stone. In this country it is considered sacred.

The Chinese carve various symbols on jade products. The image of a mandarin duck is a love talisman, a fish promises wealth, a blooming peach promises longevity, and a deer speaks of noble origin. The Chinese wore carved plates made of white mineral, believing that their ringing would drive away evil spirits.

Jade is called Maori stone (indigenous New Zealanders). These people used the mineral in the manufacture of weapons, wood carving tools, and tattooing.

Jade deposits and ancient legends

It was quite simple to do this - after all, two of the trio are police officers. And the third has a dad.

The enrichment scheme was outrageously simple: it is unclear why no one has thought of this before.

In the Sayan valleys, not only gold or spinel is illegally mined, but also less expensive (and therefore less state-controlled) jade. However, even the relatively low cost of the stone is amazing - Oka green jade costs about $500 per kilogram.

Baunt white jade already costs from five to ten thousand dollars per kilogram. The main consumer of jade is China, where this stone is in some cases valued higher than gold.

Jade is mined mainly in the territory of Buryatia - in the Tunkinsky, Barguzinsky and Okinsky regions. Illegal jade mining is a separate story that is not related to our story, and more on that later.

As a rule, professional teams from Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk and Ulan-Ude extract stone. Production is regulated “according to rules”; excesses are rare.

The main purchase of jade takes place in Irkutsk - this is where the largest underground market for this mineral is.

It is sold in much smaller volumes in Ulan-Ude and Chita. Jade is bought by Chinese citizens and taken to their homeland.

This is where a weak link was discovered, which it was decided to deploy for the benefit of individual citizens. According to our interlocutor, the whole scheme was invented by none other than Sergei Alekseev, a very enterprising businessman, the son of Boris Alekseev, a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Irkutsk Region.

Chinese citizens were caught red-handed immediately after the transaction was completed. After all, purchasing semi-precious stones without a license and without trade documents is a direct violation of the law. Of course, it was not Sergei Alekseev himself who detained, but two of his friends and accomplices: the head of OP-9, Lieutenant Colonel Ilya Vychuzhin and the detective of the department for combating economic crimes, Alexey Levitsky.

The detained Chinese were released on bail. The stone was registered as evidence and stored at the regional department.

And here comes the most interesting part. The fact is that natural jade looks like an ordinary slightly greenish cobblestone. After the arrest and seizure, the jade was stored at the regional department as evidence. And at night it was replaced with cobblestones collected on the banks of the Angara and taken to a base specially rented from the famous Gleb L.. The first expert, seeing a cobblestone instead of jade, twirled his finger at his temple and informed Vychuzhin and Levitsky that they had detained the Chinese in vain, and the case should be closed.

Bingo.

Of course, none of the Chinese even thought of protesting and drawing criminal charges for themselves. It's better to lose a little money than a lot of freedom.

However, the criminal trinity unfolded on too large a scale. Perhaps the experts brought in repeatedly were puzzled by the systemic idiocy of the duo. Or maybe she just didn’t share it with who she needed to.

One way or another, the Internal Security Directorate of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB Directorate for the Irkutsk Region became interested in the issue. The development was carried out professionally - all actions to remove the jade from the regional department were recorded on video, the negotiations of the defendants were also recorded.

And then miracles began.

Sergei Alekseev took up the matter. Using his father’s famous name, he tried to “drive up” through his relatives to the head of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee for the city of Irkutsk, Mikhail Fedyashev.

It was not possible - the chief investigator was not tempted by tempting offers.

Then Sergei Alekseev turned to his dad. According to reports, they together tried to persuade the prosecutor in charge of the case to close it.

It is not known exactly how the persuasion ended, but somehow it turned out that today the only person under investigation remains in the case. This is a former BEP detective, Aleksey Levitsky, who has already been dismissed from the authorities.

Lieutenant Colonel Ilya Vychuzhin not only did not part with his organs, but also continues to hold office. Now he is the deputy head of OP-8 in Irkutsk-II. The CSS checks, despite the presence of video recordings, “did not find anything.” It turns out that several tons of jade migrated through the regional police department, and its chief did not notice anything?

Dad's son Sergei Alekseev is also free and completely immersed in quiet family happiness.

Which, by the way, we will also tell you about soon.

And the case will most likely be closed altogether due to some newly discovered circumstances. Because Sergei Alekseev has a dad. And dad is very friendly with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Lyudmila Berlina. As you know, she is one of the prosecutors - and there are no former prosecutors, like security officers.

In fact, why shouldn’t the prosecutor’s team help the “jade boy” Sergei Alekseev, who is in trouble?

“Where can I buy real jade?” – this question was once asked by each of our clients. The solution for them was to order raw stone from the Rosnefrit company.

We offer you to buy raw jade: a large selection in the catalog is not our only advantage.

Main deposits and production

Jade is formed due to the interaction of magma with sedimentary dolomites, which contain a lot of magnesium. You can find the mineral on almost any continent. The main deposits are as follows:

• In Russia, production is concentrated in Tuva, Southern Siberia at the Ospinskoye, in Transbaikalia at the Khamarkhudinskoye, Khokhyurtinskoye, Buromskoye, Golyubinskoye fields;
• Asia - China (mainly in the Pamirs, Kunlun), Kazakhstan, Myanmar;
• Poland;
• USA - mainly in California, Montana, Washington, Alaska;
• Canada;
• Brazil;
• Mexico;
• New Zealand is a world leader in the extraction of high-quality minerals with the best color.

Jade is found during quarrying and mined in riverbeds and streams by hand. The mineral mined in water is of high quality, and the price of jewelry made from it is higher.

It is noteworthy that almost all raw materials mined in Russia are sent to China for processing.

Types and colors

Jade has a complex chemical composition, including various impurities, so the range of colors is huge. Stones of various shades of green are often found - grassy, ​​marsh, emerald, yellowish.

Jade can be light. It is almost white in color, milky and fawn shades. Interestingly, in China, white jade could only be worn by emperors, high-ranking nobles and enlightened monks. A mineral of this color was the most valuable.

Black jade is considered a valuable species. In the East it is considered a divine stone. According to one legend, the throne of Buddha in heaven is made from it.

The rarest is red jade. It is believed to symbolize the energy of fire. There are many varieties of red jade. The stone can be scarlet, dark cherry, pinkish, or have an orange or crimson tint.

Blue jade is considered a rare species. People usually talk about dianite, a related but not identical mineral discovered twenty years ago and named after Princess Diana.

The color of jade can be uniform or uneven. A one-color mineral is more valuable. Streaks, mottled or cloudy stones reduce the price.

A rare effect for jade is cat's eye. It is provided by parallel microscopic inclusions in the shape of a needle or tube. The effect appears when a light stream is directed onto the stone, and it intensifies when cutting a cabochon.

There are different classifications of jade. In China, there are several varieties of it, named after the place of extraction:

• The most valuable is Khotan. This is a white and grayish stone - they are called the colors of mutton fat. The mineral has a thick waxy matte sheen.
• In Xiuyan County, translucent jade of white or light green color is mined. Transparent stones are less common.
• The most common is Nanyang - a translucent mineral of yellowish or white color. The composition is heterogeneous; the white stone has pinkish, yellow, and green inclusions. Nanyang usually goes to sculpture.
• A yellow mineral with green inclusions is mined in Lantian. There are stones with a cloud pattern.

Properties

Jade is a semi-precious ornamental stone of the first order along with malachite, rock crystal, agate, and smoky quartz. The mineral has certain physical properties, has a healing effect, and has special magic.

Physical

Jade has the following physical properties:

• fibrous structure;
• high impact strength - it is difficult to split the stone;
• hardness 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale;
• average density 2.95 g/cm3;
• refraction 1.62;
• glass shine;
• the mineral is often opaque, transparency can be observed in chips or plates up to 10-15 mm wide;
• on the fracture the stone is conchoidal, paraffin-like;
• refractoriness, acids have no effect on the mineral.

Although jade is difficult to break into pieces, its fibrous structure makes it easy to process into jewelry. This applies to carvings with polishing, after which a greasy shine appears.

Magical

Jade has magical properties. With the stone you can perform magical rituals, experiments in esotericism, and draw up horoscopes. The magic of the mineral is manifested in the following properties:

• the gift of longevity - for this you need to wear a jade bracelet or necklace; in the past, healers brewed the elixir of immortality with the stone;
• protection from severe injuries and wounds;
• A military jade amulet protects against mistakes and prevents you from making rash decisions;
• development of the gift of clairvoyance, communication with other worlds;
• unlocking mental potential - for this you need to wear jade jewelry, they clarify thoughts, open up non-standard thinking;
• protection from otherworldly influences;
• ensuring family happiness.

Jade jewelry in a frame is an excellent amulet that protects against the evil eye. A red stone protects against natural disasters, so it is worth taking it with you on trips.

Medicinal

The origin of the name of the mineral is fully justified by its healing effect on kidney diseases. It also has other medicinal properties:

• beneficial effects on the lungs and cardiovascular system - relief from shortness of breath, headaches, restoration of normal blood pressure;
• anti-inflammatory effect;
• elimination of rheumatic pain - you need to apply a plate of healing stone;
• jade beads or a bracelet will restore sleep and relieve nightmares;
• wearing a stone on the stomach makes childbirth easier;
• in a bath with jade pebbles, muscle tone increases, material metabolism improves, and the body is cleansed;
• a comb made from this stone strengthens hair, makes it thicker, stimulates cerebral circulation, and has a positive effect on vision and hearing;
• facial massage with jade tightens the skin, smoothes wrinkles;
• the mineral can be used as a warming compress.

What is jade? Properties, extraction, application and price of jade

Jade and Zodiac Signs

Astrologers have a clear position - any stone must be chosen taking into account your zodiac sign. In this regard, jade is attractive because any sign can wear it. The mineral has a beneficial effect on everyone.

Jade has absolute zodiac compatibility with Virgo. The mineral will help representatives of this sign achieve success in the professional field. The stone will provide Virgo with family well-being if worn on her right hand. Representatives of this sign are best suited for minerals in red shades.

The stone is also perfect for Libra. If you wear jade on your right hand, it will give you longevity.

Jade products

Various crafts have long been made from this mineral. This direction is especially popular in the East. In the 17th-18th centuries in China, the art of stone cutting flourished in full force. Jade was often used to make figurines of mythical animals - dragons, unicorns, hydras.

The mineral was used for various crafts. It was and remains popular for making chess, tabletop sets, vases and cups, bowls, and all kinds of utensils.

One of the main uses of jade is the manufacture of various jewelry. The mineral is used to make beads and necklaces, pendants and pendants, bracelets and rings, and brooches. Jade jewelry is made for both women and men. For the stronger sex, bracelets, rings, cufflinks, and tie clips are usually made from the mineral. You can often find jade rosaries.

Price

Prices for jade products depend on many factors. These are the size of the stone, uniformity of color and shade, complexity of execution, and metal of the frame.

The cost of silver earrings with jade has an average range of 5-15 thousand rubles. The prices for similar products with gilding are approximately the same.

The cost of silver rings with jade starts from 3 thousand rubles, and can be several times higher. Similar products with gilding can be purchased in the range of 3-12 thousand rubles.

Prices for simple jade bracelets in the Shambhala style start from a thousand rubles. Silver jewelry with such a stone can be bought from 5 thousand rubles.

Jade beads can be bought from 1.5 thousand rubles. A product made from stone chips or dust will cost even less.

The cost of figurines and other products varies greatly. A small craft can be bought for less than a thousand rubles, and the cost of exclusive handmade items can be estimated at millions.

Jade is a unique ornamental stone

Despite the fact that natural jade is not a precious, but a semi-precious stone, it is widely used in creating jewelry. Jade interior items are also often found: coasters, ashtrays, figurines, bowls.

The stone gained popularity due to its durability and beauty.

With a deep green hue, it can decorate any necklace or ring. Light color lovers can also find herbal, emerald and yellow-green jade jewelry. Blue and white jade are not used as often, but are also surprisingly beautiful.

How to distinguish natural jade from a fake

More often, products made from pressed raw materials - plastic and jade chips, shavings or dust - are passed off as natural jade. The following factors will help you avoid counterfeiting:

• the natural mineral is durable - it will not break if dropped, will not be scratched by a knife or other sharp object;
• if you illuminate a stone, its fibrous structure is clearly visible;
• beads and plates hit each other with a pleasant melodic ringing; the craft is distinguished by dull sounds;
• If you hold a jade product in your hand, it will retain heat for a long time.

Jade is not only counterfeited, but also passed off as more expensive jadeite, taking advantage of the similarity of the minerals.

Interesting facts about jade

The mineral has been known to people for many millennia, so many interesting facts are known about it:

• Genghis Khan had a personal seal depicting a lying tiger. Green jade was used to make it.
• In Samarkand there is the Gur-Emir mausoleum, where the famous Tamerlane found peace. The burial is covered with a jade tombstone, cut from a single piece of dark green mineral.
• In the summer of 1960, a jade block weighing more than 260 tons was found in Sichuan County. The government ordered not to touch her. The stone was transported only in 1992 to sculpt a Buddha statue for the future temple. Its height was 6 m.
• In 1968, the tomb of the ruler of Zhushan province, Liu Shen, who lived 2 centuries BC, was found. On his body was a jade suit - 2.5 thousand plates, which were connected by a golden thread.
• The sarcophagus of Alexander III is carved from a single piece of milky jade. The stone was mined in Siberia.
• At the end of the 19th century, Nicholas II received a field marshal's baton from the Chinese ambassador. Yellow jade was used to make it and decorated with gold ornaments.
• Beijing has Beihai National Park. In its southern part, called the Round City, there is the Chengguan Pavilion, where there is a white jade Buddha statue and the cup of Emperor Kublai Kublai. Its height is 0.7 m, diameter 1.5 m, weight 3.5 tons.

Jade is a popular semi-precious stone. The mineral has been known to people for many millennia, and it is mined on most continents. Various jewelry and crafts are made from jade. Caring for the stone is easy. The mineral is suitable for all signs of the Zodiac, has healing powers and magic.

Other jadeite deposits of the world

Field in Kazakhstan

The Itmurunda jadeite deposit in Kazakhstan was discovered in the 50s of the 20th century. It is located 110 km from the city of Kashi among a massif of serpentinites stretching in the northwest direction for 30 km, with a width ranging from several meters to 1.5 km.

The diameter of jadeite veins ranges from one to several tens of meters.

Some veins, especially the largest ones, consist of gray jadeite. Closer to the outer layers, a lot of green jadeite appears, as well as albite, analcime, natrolite, and tremolite. Based on the location of the veins in the deposit, you can even give them “names.” In the vein cores the main constituent is almost monomineral jadeite; closer to the edges: a layer of omphacite, and the outermost layer is orthopyroxene ( Fig. 5

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Another researcher discovered that the “original” deposits of deposits can be divided into 2 types according to their formation. The first type is dominated by actinolite, albite-quartz crystalline structures, and the second type is dominated by albite.