Jade in Japan
A very small jadeite deposit in Japan and a more recent discovery of mostly dark-green nephrite in Taiwan complete the inventory of jade sources in the eastern part of the world. Some of the Taiwan jade has already made its way into western markets to add to the meager supply from Russia and Burma.
But what of the western world? Surely there must be a more plentiful supply there. In actual fact, a quick survey shows jade to be an uncommon mineral.
As someone once said, “When scientists say jade is geologically fortuitous and the Chinese that it was a gift from Heaven, they agree in all except terminology.”
It is agreed that the arts of jade carving in Central America and China reached their highest artistic levels at about the same period in history. In China, although the jade supply was not native, there were at least some records of possible sources and these have now been pretty well identified. All traces of American sources were lost before and during the Spanish conquest. The great mystery for centuries had been the unexplainable high development of jade carving in Central America with no obvious sources of material. The implication was that somehow jade was imported by long-lost trade routes from other parts of the world. However in 1955 the rediscovery of a jade deposit in Guatemala was reported. This jade was obviously the same kind of green diopside-jadeite used by the Mayas, Aztecs, and others. The problem was solved. Unfortunately, very little jade is added to the world’s current supply from any Central American source. Also check princess diamond earrings.