Where in Russia jade of different quality is mined. History, extraction and sale of jade in Russia Jade its occurrence and search

Jade stone is classified as semi-precious ornamental minerals. Its name comes from the Greek word "νεφρό", that is, "kidney", supposedly its appearance resembles this organ.

This mineral has been a subject of admiration since ancient times, it is credited with the properties of a sacred stone. He has other names: jade, Maori.

Description of the stone

Translucent semi-precious jade is composed of intertwining crystalline fibers, giving it a unique look among other stones.

It is durable, surpasses granite in this characteristic. A variety of products are made from it with details of unusual accuracy. Jade is popular for its durability and also because it is well crafted.

Historical information

Archaeologists find jade, which can be attributed to the Neolithic era. These are figurines, amulets, tools, hunting items. All things have a special strength.

Ancient Egypt widely used jade to create women's and any other jewelry, including household items. Clothes were strewn with small green stones, and they also made slabs of structures and columns for them.

Meaning

In the course of history, jade stone was often used to make symbols of power.

Moreover, the people liked it, because the shades of the green mineral were attractive to him. From ancient times to today, it is a sacred stone for China. They believe in its ability to change the habits and behavior of a person.

The properties of the stone were compared with human qualities, the nobility of people. In the East, it is a symbol of harmony, getting rid of the fuss. In Europe and many other countries it was used for magical purposes.

Physical properties

The chemical composition of jade includes impurities of iron, magnesium, vanadium and chromium. Also, it contains silica or silicon oxide.

At the same time, the rock is distinguished by the toughness and strength of steel.

Physical properties include the following:

1. The color of the stone varies from gray and white to green and blue. There is also black jade. The brightness of the color is variable depending on the chemical composition of the sample, the presence of FeO - iron oxides. The most valuable samples are pale, with significant transparency (translucent), having a greasy sheen.
2. Hardness ranges from 2.90 to 3.02.
3. Density - 3.5.
4. The hardness of jade can be compared to glass, but it is softer than quartz.
5. Transparency comes in different levels. Often it is completely absent in the stone, unless it is cut into thin plates.
6. Due to the high heat capacity, jade is used to treat the areas of the stomach and kidneys, warming these organs for a long time (as a heating pad).

Place of Birth

Jade-like minerals form as a result of magma intrusion into sedimentary rocks.

Many explored deposits were formed in this way. And also through the invasion of intrusions (magma) into serpentinites.

Jade is found among marble and shale. It is mined in rivers and streams in the form of placers, as well as in quarries.

Jade deposits have been discovered on every continent. Industrial sources are the Ospinskoye deposit (of the East Sayan group), the developed Ulan-Khodinskoye deposit, in the Polar Urals, in Kazakhstan and Tuva.

Outside of the Russian Federation, New Zealand can be called with a high (first-class) quality of the minerals found, beautiful coloring, and transparency. As well as Canada and the USA, the states of California, Washington, Montana and Alaska.

The mountainous areas of China (Pamir, Kuen-Lun) also have deposits where mining is carried out.

Varieties, colors

Popular opinion is that jade is only green. In fact, his palette is quite extensive. These are light, saturated and marsh shades of green, and there is also red (fiery), black and white jade.

Some stones have impurities in blue or yellowish colors.

We list the typical varieties of color:

white jade

It cannot be in the form of a stone of pure color, it has light yellow, greenish and gray shades.

Green

He is credited with the most powerful mystical properties. When contemplating it, a person can reveal his abilities, gaining peace, a peaceful state.

black jade

Basis for original jewelry. For women, it is suitable for special occasions.

In addition to differences in color, there are types of jade that differ in the type of color:

• homogeneous, which are bright and transparent, are highly valued;
• spotted;
• with patches.

This texture is possible due to the presence of carbonates, iron and other substances in the composition of the stone. Sometimes patterns are visible on the surface of jade, which is successfully used by jewelers.

Medicinal properties

Since ancient times, jade has been used to heal various diseases. For diseases of the bladder and kidneys, it was considered an excellent remedy. A good effect is also noticed on the area of ​​​​digestion.

Jade relieves insomnia, nightmares during sleep, various anxieties.

The high heat capacity of the stone allows healers to make warm compresses for the kidneys and stomach of a person. Jade is constantly warm to the touch, so it is used as a heating pad in the back area, preheated.

Many healers use jade balls for massage, including cosmetic. The condition of the skin improves.

magical properties

Jade is very often used in magical rituals. A number of his valuable abilities stand out. It is a symbol of the Earth and Sky, as well as Wisdom and Eternity.

The philosopher Confucius argued: the stone helps to show prudence and humanity, reveals mental abilities.

The East considered the stone to be holy, able to save the owner from evil intentions, to show respect for people. In many peoples of the world, jade was used to communicate with the other world during magical rituals.

Some believe that this mineral can stop hurricanes and other natural disasters, acting on a planetary scale.

The stone protects the owner from bad company and enemies. Family relationships will develop well.

Who suits jade according to the zodiac sign?

In fact, jade can suit any sign of the zodiac. But at the same time, the condition must be met: readiness for drastic changes against the backdrop of everyday life. It is most favorable for Libra. In this case, it is good if the color is white.

Virgins red varieties will bring happiness in the family and love. And also fiery jade will help any initiatives in the profession.

Crayfish, Pisces choose black or blue, as the most favorable, giving energy, strength. Capricorn recommended green color, the most common for jade. Then the stone will moderate impulsiveness, reduce aggression, and can also lead to the realization of goals.

It is better for Sagittarius and Taurus not to use jade as their zodiac talisman.

Talismans and amulets

Jade stone protects the owner from any misfortunes, failures. Single people are advised to wear white amulets, which bring changes in life in search of well-being in and marriage unions.

For a child, the image of a padlock carved on jade, which is worn around his neck, is considered successful. It symbolized the connection with life.

A good talisman is a ring, a ring with an insert of white jade. They help in professional activities, optimally combining it with family well-being.

This mineral can enhance the beneficial effects of other amulets. It is good as a symbol of military courage, intelligence. If the jade jewelry is small, the person will quickly achieve his goals, overtaking others. For warriors, this is quite suitable.

Blood-red varieties of stone protect housing from the elements of nature.

Decorations

Mankind has made a variety of jade jewelry throughout history. These are cult, household, jewelry crafts. As well as talismans and symbols of power. Beautiful little figurines. Copies of the stone look good with rings, in the form of beads and pendants, bracelets.

Other uses of the stone

Jade is used for medical purposes (for example, by healers) for massage, heating. Heating stones keep heat for a long time, in connection with which they treat sciatica, kidneys. From it you can make parts of furniture and the furniture itself, many household items.

Price

How much is jade worth? It depends on the quality of the stone, color, structure. The frame of the jewelry can be made of various metals, which determines the price of the product. For example, the cost of rings with green jade starts from 600 rubles.

jade care

Due to the durability of jade, it does not need special care. This is a shock-resistant material, it is not too afraid of scratches. However, it is recommended to store it in a separate box, lined inside with a soft cloth. Or use a cloth bag.

Cleaning is done with soapy water, rinsing well with running water at the end of the procedure. You can simply wipe the jade with a soft damp cloth or even rub it.

How to distinguish a natural stone from a fake?

In addition to natural jade, there is also pressed jade and its plastic fake.

Nephrite is a rock with a characteristic tangled-fibrous structure related to amphiboles of the actinolite-tremolite series with the chemical composition Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2. It is characterized by a hardness of 5.5-6 on the Mohs scale, oily sheen and high viscosity. : white, black, green, brown in various shades. The material is opaque or slightly translucent.
All ancient Chinese carvings are made of jade, not jadeite, as is commonly believed. Products made of jadeite have been known only since the 18th century, to which the Chinese gave the name "Yu" (?i), which also serves to designate all precious stones in general. Currently, in China, jadeite is called "fei-ts" ui - the stone of the royal fish, although initially this name was also used to refer to some high-quality varieties of green jade.
In Taiwan (and in Siberia) there are green and golden-brown translucent stones with silkiness. The desire to sell these stones under the name "jade cat's eye" was perceived critically by leading gemologists on the grounds that although the composition and properties of these stones correspond to jade, their parallel-fibrous structure, which causes a silky effect, is fundamentally different from the structure of jade, whose fibers are randomly oriented. and form a tangled fibrous structure. It is more correct to call this variety tremolite or actinolite cat's eye. Jade from various deposits of the world is very individual and differs in its color range and consumer qualities.
It is believed that the largest jade monolith in the world "Max Rosequist" was discovered in July 1992 in Canada (Yukon). This single jade lens, weighing 577 tons, is currently the property of Yukon Jade. In the Transbaikal region in the channel alluvium of the river. Kitoy (Eastern Sayan Ridge) is known for a jade boulder weighing more than 30 tons.
The south of the East Siberian region has been the main jade-bearing province of Russia and a large jade-bearing region of the world since the middle of the 19th century. In addition to the south of Siberia, aposerpentinite nephrites in Russia are noted in the Urals (northern and southern), Yakutia (Chersky Ridge), Kamchatka and Sakhalin. Apocarbonate nephrites are not found outside the territory of Buryatia in other regions of Russia.
Countries, suppliers of jade to the world market.

For the mineral resource base of nephrites in Russia (the availability of reserves in the late 90s of the XX century at the then average annual level of production was at least 80 years), certain disproportions are characteristic, which consisted, first of all, in a sharp (more than 90%) predominance in the balance stocks of ornamental varieties of jade and a shortage of jewelry. At the beginning of the 21st century, due to a sharp increase in uncontrolled mining, primarily in the Vitim and East Sayan nephrite-bearing regions, and the absence of a minimum increase, the disproportion has intensified even more: there is a sharp decrease in the reserves of Russian nephrites, primarily jewelry and high-grade ornamental ones.
The study of the territory of the South Siberian region for green nephrites is quite high and the possibility of discovering new large deposits using traditional methods in known jade-bearing areas, although it exists, is unlikely. There are also difficulties in further increasing the reserves of scarce varieties of jade in already known deposits, also associated with a fairly high degree of exploration of most of the objects.
Among the known nephrite-bearing areas, the smallest prospects are associated with Dzhidinsky, which has been studied most fully (due to its compactness and relative exposure). The resource potential of this jade-bearing region is practically exhausted, the probability of discovering new deposits is negligible, the discovery of new veins on the flanks of known deposits is unlikely.
The East Sayan nephrite-bearing region has been studied rather unevenly: the specialized exploration work carried out was concentrated in its central and eastern parts, where 4 large deposits were discovered and studied (Ulankhodinskoye, Ospinskoye, Gorlykgolskoye, Arakhushanzhalginskoye) and a number of manifestations of jade (Sagansairskoye, Zunospinskoye, Bortogolskoye, Khundygolskoe). The main East Sayan jade deposits are located in the alpine-type ultrabasic massifs of the hypermafic belt of the same name, elongated along the sublatitudinal faults that limit the Gargan Archean block within the Altai-Sayan folded region. The northern fault controls the Khalbyn-Khairkhansky hypermafic massif, which occupies an area of ​​about 30 km2. This massif contains the Ulankhodin jade deposit. Associated with the southern fault is the Ospinsko-Kitoisky hypermafic massif, the largest in the Eastern Sayan, with an area of ​​174 km2, containing the Ospinskoye and Bortogolskoye jade deposits. In addition, a number of small ultramafic massifs are distinguished in the East Sayan ultramafic belt, the total area of ​​which does not exceed 50 km2.
The western part of the East Sayan nephrite-bearing region (like the West Sayan region) remains the least studied even after specialized research has been carried out in the region. Within the western flank of the jade-bearing region (the basin of the upper reaches of the Oka River), only general searches were carried out along the main watercourses, as a result of which a halo of distribution of jade boulders along the river was identified and contoured. Bokson (left tributary of the Oka River) and separate boulders were found in the basin of the river. Forty (right tributary of the Oka River). More detailed work in the area of ​​the probable location of primary sources of jade was not carried out. The geological structure of the region in this part of the region is favorable in terms of nephriticity, which is confirmed by direct finds of jade boulders in the channel sediments of the river. Boxon. The probable primary source of the identified nephrites is the Tarkhoi mafic-ultramafic massif, as well as a number of smaller massifs that are part of the East Sayan ophiolite belt.
The least studied parts of the East Sayan region include its northwestern region, where two manifestations of jade were found on the territory of the Irkutsk region - Orakty-Oiskoe and Cholo-Mongo.
In the West Sayan region, only one Kurtushibinskoye deposit is known so far, characterized by a high blockiness of stone, but an inexpressive color scheme, as well as low and medium quality raw materials.
The main geological and genetic types that form industrial jade deposits are contact-metasomatic deposits associated with carbonate and ultramafic rocks, as well as alluvial and glacial placers.

Deposits in serpentinized ultramafic rocks

Jade of this type makes up the vast majority of known deposits and manifestations of the South Siberian region. The bulk of explored depositsis located in the West Sayan, East Sayan and Dzhida nephrite-bearing regions. Manifestations of this type are known in the Vitim nephrite-bearing region (Paramskoye, Kelyanskoye, etc.).
Aposerpentinite nephrites are spatially and genetically related to the ultramafic component of ophiolites and localized in serpentinites at contact with small bodies of rodingitized aluminosilicate rocks. Their distinguishing features are green tones of color and the constant presence of inclusions of dark-colored minerals (magnetite, chrome spinels).
The largest Russian jade deposit, Ospinskoye, is located in the upper reaches of the Ilchir, the right tributary of the river. Onota, 85 km from the village. Kyren. Jade veins and lenses are concentrated in the central part of the Ospa-Kitoi massif, where it is divided into two blocks by a band of carbonate-terrigenous rocks of the Ilchir suite of the Proterozoic.
The deposit consists of two sections - Ilchirsky and Ospinsky, which are nephrite-bearing zones of serpentinite shearing in the marginal parts of blocks of ultrabasic rocks,near their contact with the limestone-shale strata. The nephrite-bearing zone of the Ilchir site was traced in the sublatitudinal direction for 1 km, its width is about 0.3 km. Within the zone, seven nephrite-bearing veins are distinguished, occurring at the contact of serpentinites with gabbroid dikes, transformed into amphibolized rocks, rodingites and albitites. The largest of them, plate-like vein 7 (contains the main part of the explored reserves of apohyperbasite jade in Russia) is 49 m long and 1–2 m thick. The length of the remaining veins is 5–10 m, and the thickness is 0.5–1.0 m.
Vein 7 lies in a flat side of a completely altered gabbroid dyke intruded between the limestone-shale sequence and serpentinites. In the vertical section, the following zoning is observed (from the recumbent side of the vein to the hanging side): 1) serpentinites; 2) talcites (often absent); 3) tremolites; 4) jade; 5) tremolites; 6) rodingitis; 7) amphibole-zoisite rocks (often absent); 8) carbonaceous shales with interlayers of crystalline limestones. Jade has a dark and light green color, massive or striated structure, translucent in plates up to 3-5 mm thick. A feature of the nephrites of this vein is the complete absence of dissemination of chrome spinels and the wide development of a variety known as "actinolite cat's eye".
The Ospinsky site is located 1 km southeast of Ilchirsky. The nephrite-bearing zone of this site extends in a northwesterly direction for 1–0.7 km with an average width of 0.3 km. Nine jade veins are known here, of which the largest with high quality raw materials is vein 6 (currently completely worked out). The strike of the vein is submeridional, the angles of dip are steep, and the length is 20 m. It lies in the lying side of a dike-like body of diopside-zoisite-quartz rodingite, at its contact with serpentinites. The following metasomatic zoning is observed (from the foot side of the vein to the hanging side): 1) talcated serpentinites; 2) albitites; 3) jade; 4) zoisite-diopside rodingites; 5) diopside-zoisite-quartz rodingites.
Jade vein 6 grass green, apple green, massive, high quality.
The Ulankhodinskoye deposit is located in the northwestern part of the hypermafic massif of the same name, occurring among metamorphosed effusive-sedimentary rocks of the Upper Proterozoic. In plan, the array has an irregular shape; its length is 12 km, width is up to 5 km. The Ulankhodinskoye jade deposit is the first industrial primary jade deposit discovered during specialized geological exploration in 1966.
After the discovery of the first jade bodies, various parts of the deposit have been repeatedly studied (prospecting and prospecting and appraisal work) and to date, 32 jade veins have been identified within the deposit.
The deposit is confined to the northwestern endocontact of the Kholbyn-Khairkhan ultramafic massif. The structure of the massif is zonal - its central part is composed of slightly altered and unaltered peridotites, the periphery is composed of cataclased serpentinites and talc-carbonate rocks (mélange zones). Within the northwestern flank of the massif, in the melange zone, numerous dike bodies of aluminosilicate rocks are noted - mainly porphyritic albitites, less often - gabbroids. Jade veins are dated to their contact with serpentinites. Three nephrite-bearing zones were identified at the deposit, and high-quality nephrites were found only within the first, mainly in the place of its bend and junction with the second and first bis-nephrite-bearing zones. However, in the deluvial deposits, trails of fragments of high-quality nephrites are distributed along the entire length of the nephrite-bearing zone.
The massif is composed of serpentinized harzburgites, cataclased serpentinites, talc-carbonate rocks, and listvenites. As in the Ospa-Kitoi ultrabasic massif, vein- and dike-like bodies of rodingites and albitites are quite widespread here, with which lenses and veins of jade are associated.
The deposit combines two sites located on the northern slope of the Ulan-Khoda mountain and in the upper reaches of the river. Khara-Zhelga. Cataclased serpentinites are developed in the area of ​​the first nephrite-bearing area, crossed by three extended tectonic faults that control the placement of nephrite-bearing albitites and rodingites. According to Yu. N. Kolesnik (1962, 1964, 1965), albitites, like rodingites in the Eastern Sayan, are products of the metasomatic transformation of gabbro-diabases.
Tectonic faults have a northwestern or sublatitudinal strike and are traced in length about 600 m. On the ground, these are thick zones of recrystallized serpentinites containing discontinuous and en echelon-shaped rodingite veins or porphyritic albitites, forming a series of contiguous sublatitudinal veins ranging in length from several tens to 600 m and up to 10–12 m thick. Albitites are fine-grained essentially albite rocks with porphyritic quartz segregations and an admixture of diopside, tremolite, chlorite, and zoisite. In the endocontact of albitite veins, rodingites are locally developed, and talc rocks with jade lenses are developed directly at the boundary with host serpentinites.
The length of these veins along the strike varies from several tens to 300 m, the thickness is 1-3 m. They are composed of light-colored fine-grained rock, which is dominated by calcium-silicate minerals: zoisite, diopside, etc., quartz is also present, sometimes albite.
According to R. S. Zamaletdinov and I. S. Yakshin (1971), jade veins located at the contact of metasomatically altered vein rock with serpentinites are characterized by a certain metasomatic zoning. High quality jade is usually associated with rodingite veins.

In the near-alband parts of some rodingite veins, there are small lens-like and vein-like segregations of jade. The mineralized zone is accompanied by dike-like bodies of metamorphosed gabbro-diabases, in which the primary pyroxene is replaced by amphibole, and the main plagioclase is replaced by albite and zoisite.

Despite the significant length of rodingite and albitite veins, common in large tectonic faults, as well as beyond them, only 10 jade veins were found in the area of ​​the first section of the Ulankhodinskoye deposit. Their length varies from 1.5 to 10 m, the average thickness is 0.5-0.7 m, rarely more.
The second section of the Ulankhodinskoye deposit is slightly larger than the first one. Antigorite serpentinites and talc-carbonate rocks are developed within its limits. Rodingites are practically absent here and instead of them albitites are widespread, which N. D. Sobolev, who first discovered them in the upper reaches of the Khara-Zhelga, called albitized granite-porphyries (Kolesnik, 1966). A.F. Korzhinsky (1958), A.H. Suturin (1968) and others speak in favor of the apogranitic origin of albitites. hundreds of meters.
Small blocks of albitites, as well as rodingites, in the first section of the deposit, apparently, represent large bodies awakened during tectonic movements. In the second area, there are 11 small jade veins similar in the nature of metasomatic zoning to the veins of the first area, developed at the contact of albitites with serpentinites.
A characteristic feature of nephrite-bearing albitites, according to Yu.N. Kolesnik, who considers them as contact-reaction apogabbro metasomatites in serpentinites, is the association of nephrite with high-temperature micro-tangled-fibrous diopside or with spindle-shaped diopside crystals. High-temperature nephrite, diopside, and also diopside-grossular rock, which sometimes develop at the contact of albitite bodies, are usually replaced by low-temperature parageneses of minerals - wide-prismatic tremolite and talc, which is the reason for the low quality of nephrite associated with albitites.
With the destruction of the primary bodies of jade in the second area of ​​the deposit, an alluvial large-boulder placer of jade in the valley of the river was associated. Khara-Zhelga, currently worked out.
The Ulan-Khodinsky deposit is characterized by the unique qualities of jade from a number of veins (Nos. 9, 10), which stood out among others in terms of physical, mechanical and artistic and decorative characteristics. The strength of the nephrites of these veins made it possible to apply intensive processing modes, which significantly accelerated the technological process in the manufacture of products, and artistic and decorative, due to the combination of saturated clear-green colors of the main background with uniform inclusions of chrome spinels, made the products very attractive. The veins were completely worked out in the early 70s.
Subsequent prospecting and exploration work did not reveal veins with a similar quality of raw materials at the deposit, although individual fragments, blocks and even their plumes were found in the deluvial dumps.
The low efficiency of previous works can be explained by the peculiarity of the geological structure of this deposit and morphology, jade veins, their size, quality characteristics of raw materials, structural control factors, etc. The parameters of the jade veins of the Ulankhodinskoye deposit for most of them are very small (length 3-5 m, width 0.3-1 m). This is significantly less than the density of the prospecting network of mine workings traditionally accepted for this type of mineral - 10 m, at which most of the veins of high-quality jade with such parameters were inevitably missed.
The Bortogol jade manifestation was discovered in 1972. Exploration work was carried out on its area, as a result of which 9 jade veins were discovered (including 2 with gem-quality jade). In 1990, prospecting and appraisal work was started at the deposit, which was not completed due to the termination of budget funding in 1992. At present, the bodies containing jewelry jade have been rapaciously mined from the surface.
Geologically, the area of ​​manifestation is a site of alternation of ultramafic and schist components of ophiolites. The "bands" of ultramafic rocks are the western continuation of the Onot lens of the Ospino-Kitoi massif. They are predominantly composed of intensely cataclased chrysotile-lizardite serpentinites, less often talc-carbonate rocks, and represent classical melange zones at the base of ophiolite sheets. In serpentinites and talc-carbonate rocks of the melange zones, blocks of aluminosilicate rocks are quite widespread: meta-effusives, meta-gabbro, plagiogranites. Jade veins are dated to their contact with serpentinites. The processes of low-temperature metasomatism were widely manifested in the area of ​​manifestation, which resulted in the formation of rather extensive fields of talc-carbonate rocks. In some cases, low-temperature metasomatism also covers jade veins, which leads to a significant decrease in the quality of raw materials as a result of chloritization, talcation, and carbonatization.
Cholo-Mongo occurrence (Irkutsk region). Jade bodies of complex morphology are noted in the zone of contact of sulfidized quartzites with crystalline schists in the ledge of the socle terrace of the river. Cholo-Mongo. Jade is surrounded by a dense light rock of the rodingite type (altered rocks of variable serpentine-antigorite-tremolite composition). The thickness of the jade-bearing zone is 15-20 m (traced westward from the bank of the Cholo-Mongo River for 35 m), the size of lenticular and boudin-shaped jade bodies is 40x60 cm, smaller vein-like bodies have a thickness of 15-30 cm and a length of up to 2-3 m The color of jade is variegated: it varies greatly from dark green, green, less often apple green to light green. Inclusions of pyrite and magnetite up to 10-15% are noted. In terms of quality, manifestation jade can be classified as ornamental varieties. The nephrite-bearing zone was not traced along the strike. Searches were carried out on an area of ​​4x5 km, ditches.
A similar occurrence of jade Orakty-Oiskoye is known in the Nizhneudinsk region of the Irkutsk region. A vein of jade lying at the contact of a dike-like body of rodingites with serpentinites, 35-40 cm thick, 5.2 m long, was uncovered by a ditch. By quality - ornamental jade, II grade. The manifestation has no practical value for this period due to small parameters, poor quality of raw materials and its remoteness.

Deposits in magnesian skarns

Light-colored jade has unique artistic and decorative qualities and is one of the most popular types of colored stones, which is determined by the traditional aesthetic preferences of the large population of Southeast Asia (and, above all, China). Given the steady economic growth and the huge capacity of this sector of the market, the trend of outstripping demand for this type of raw material will continue for a fairly long term.
Apocarbonate nephrites are much rarer in nature (compared to the aposerpentinite industrial-genetic type), their deposits are currently known only in China in the foothills of the ridge. Kun-Lun, in Australia on the Eyre Peninsula and in Russia in the basin of the middle reaches of the river. Vitim.
Apocarbonate nephrites are spatially and genetically associated with large plutons of polygenic anatectic granitoids and are localized within small skialites of sedimentary metamorphic rocks at the contact of dolomitic marbles with aluminosilicate rocks. Their distinguishing feature is light tones of color (from salad green to white, sometimes with staining to honey and brown) and the complete absence of inclusions of dark-colored minerals.
Specialized work on light-colored jade in Russia was carried out from 1976 to 1993 in the middle reaches of the river. Vitim. During this time, 3 deposits of light-colored jade were discovered and studied, as well as a number of manifestations.
In 1993, systematic specialized exploration work for light-colored jade was stopped. A number of well-known highly promising manifestations remained unestimated, prospecting work was not carried out in potentially promising areas (the Vitim nephrite-bearing area is not outlined).
In addition to the above objects in the south of Eastern Siberia, there are a number of finds of light-colored nephrites dating back to the end of the 19th - the first half of the 20th century (not confirmed by later studies), concentrated primarily in the Eastern Sayan, Sayan region and the southern spurs of Khamar-Daban, which are still waiting assurances.
Known deposits of light-colored jade are all involved in development (comprehensive licenses for exploration and production obtained), which is usually carried out predatory, without providing information on the movement of reserves.
The main features of the geological structure of the region are determined by the combination of two megastructural elements on its territory: the Baikal-Vitim batholith and the marginal zone of the Baikalids, bordering on the tectonic suture zone with younger Hercynian formations. These features of the geological structure predetermine the wide development of granitoid jade deposits with numerous skialites of sedimentary-metamorphic rocks in the area of ​​concentration of nephrite deposits.
The Baikal-Vitim batholith is a powerful geological structure with a long history of development and a very complex structural-tectonic internal structure. Within the contours of the batholith and beyond it, zones of relatively young Paleozoic granitoids of the subalkaline granite-leucogranite formation are distinguished, which form massifs and plutons of various sizes and shapes, gravitating towards zones of repeated tectonic activation, predominantly NE-trending in Transbaikalia and the Baikal region and NE-trending in Prisayanye and Eastern Sayan.
All known deposits and manifestations of light-colored jade are confined to a similar pluton of the Bambuika-Tsipin interfluve, which gravitate towards its northwestern and southeastern wings, complicated by zones of regional tectonic faults.
The Buromskoye jade deposit is characterized by the simplest geological structure and is localized on the northern flank of the granitoid pluton complicated by the Pribambuiskaya tectonic zone of the regional fault. It is represented by a series of skialites of dolomite marbles located among porphyritic granitoids of the Vitimkan complex, oriented in a linear zone of submeridional strike. The sizes of skialites usually do not exceed 100-150 m in diameter.
Dolomitic marbles at contact with granitoids are skarned with the formation of zones of peculiar calcite-tremolite skarns - cryptocrystalline massive, less often banded. The main skarn minerals are calcite and tremolite, the distribution of which within the skarn zones is extremely uneven. Areas of a sharp predominance of fine-fibered tremolite (85-100%) are the segregations of jade within the deposits.
Near-contact alterations of granites near contacts with dolomitic marbles are expressed in the formation of aluminosilicate skarns of epidote-tremolite, epidote-clinozoisite-tremolite composition. The power of near-contact changes is small - from a few decimeters to 1.5-2 meters.
Golyubinskoye jade deposit, located in close proximity to Buromskoye, in the same ore-controlling and ore-bearing structure. The deposit is located within a large skialite of granitized sedimentary-metamorphic rocks of gneiss-shale-carbonate formation. Productive bodies - deposits of jade - develop on dolomitic marbles at contact with the gneiss-slate stratum without visible connection with granitoids. At the same time, near-contact changes in rocks remain characteristic and typical: calcite-tremolite skarns along carbonate rocks, epidote-tremolite skarns along the gneiss-shale strata. The features of the area of ​​the Golyubinskoye deposit are: intensive granitization of the gneiss-shale strata in the form of the development of a network of lenses and veinlets of granitoid composition, as well as locally developed (mainly near jade deposits) silicification, up to the formation of quartz spectacle schists. Granites are usually absent in the immediate vicinity of jade deposits, and in isolated cases their secant nature is established in relation to skarning zones.
The Kavokta deposit of light-colored jade is confined to the southern flank of the granitoid pluton, complicated by the Lower Tsipinskaya regional fault zone. The field is represented by two areas: Transparent and Medvezhiy, separated from each other by a distance of about 3 km. A distinctive feature of the deposit is the wide distribution of greenstone rocks within its boundaries - mainly amphibolites, epidotized to varying degrees. Their primary nature has not been unequivocally determined, but it is most likely that they were formed from marls under the influence of regional metamorphism and granitization of a complex of sedimentary-metamorphic rocks. Among the fields of amphibolites there are boudinated blocks of dolomitic marbles of various sizes and shapes, along the periphery of which zones of calcite-tremolite skarns with monomineral segregations of jade (deposits) develop, and in the exocontact - along the amphibolites - epidote-tremolite cryptocrystalline skarns. A direct spatial-genetic relationship between productive bodies and granitoids within the deposit has not been established. Moreover, exploration (trenches) and exploitation (quarries) workings established the secant position of microcline granite veins in relation to jade deposits.
The Khoytinskoye deposit was discovered in 1981 during prospecting in the lower reaches of the river. Tzips. In 1984-85 and 1988-89. a complex of exploration works was carried out at the manifestation, including geophysical surveys, detailed prospecting routes, mining, and sampling. As a result of the work, the nephriticity of the site was established, but due to difficult mining and geological conditions, the extent of the manifestation of jade mineralization and the quality of raw materials remained unclear. In 2002 - 2003 on the left side of the river. In Khoity, a nephrite-bearing zone with four deposits of light-colored jade was discovered in the bedrock occurrence. For one of the deposits, the reserves were calculated, the manifestation was transferred to the category of deposits.

Alluvial deposits

Placer deposits and placer manifestations of jade are found in all known jade-bearing areas. This type of deposits is the most convenient for mining, so the development of nephrite-bearing areas usually begins with it. The main expenses for the mining of large boulder placers fall on transportation costs. Placers of aposerpentinite and apocarbonate nephrite are somewhat different in their geological structure and geomorphological position, which primarily affects the granulometric composition of placers: aposerpentinite nephrites form large block-boulder, apocarbonate - boulder-pebble accumulations of material.
A classic example of a large block-boulder placer of aposerpentinite jade is the Arakhushanshalga deposit of the Eastern Sayan, located in the canyon-like valley of the stream of the same name, where more than 180 blocks and boulders of jade weighing from hundreds of kilograms to several tons have been recorded. The placer is characterized by a complete lack of sorting and a chaotic distribution of material. Placers of block-boulder nephrite of the aposerpentinite type on a smaller scale were noted in the Dzhida nephrite-bearing region.
Alluvial boulder-pebble placers of apocarbonate jade are widely known in the north-east of the Republic of Buryatia, in the basin of the river. Vitim and its tributaries - r. Kalar, Tsipa, Bamboo.
The established halo of jade distribution along the river. Vitim is limited from the north by the Muya intermountain basin of the Baikal type, from the south by the mouth of the river. Kalar. The maximum concentration in alluvial deposits of clastic jade reaches in the lower part of the halo - below the mouth of the river. Bambuiki, for 10-15 km, and especially in the area of ​​the Great Spit, from the surface of which more than 1 ton of the highest quality and roundness of small-bouldered and pebble jade was collected. In the upper part of the halo - between the mouths of the river. Bambuika - Kalar - finds of jade are episodic, but also have a high degree of roundness.
A halo of jade distribution along the river. Bambuika (including the river Burom) is more consistent. Within its limits, there is a transport area (upper part of the Burom river) and a relative accumulation area (lower part of the Burom and Bambuika rivers). Alluvial deposits (spit and fragments of terraced ones) in this segment have a lining character and usually lie on a rocky base. With a general "contamination" of the alluvial deposits of Bambuika with jade, no areas of its concentration were identified at the stage of prospecting. In the lower part of the halo (the estuarine part of the Bambuika River), jade finds are isolated.
Halo distribution of jade in the basin of the river. Tsipa has a more complex structure and is discontinuous. In the immediate vicinity of the primary source (Kavokta deposit), it is steadily traced at a distance of 30-35 km to the sublatitudinal section of the river. Cavocts. Further, there is a break more than 100 km long with single finds of jade boulders and pebbles in alluvial deposits.
A local site of concentration of clastic jade is noted on the left bank of the river. Tsypy, in the estuary part of the river. Khoyty, which is the result of the influence of a closely located (about 3 km) primary source (Khoytinskoye field). An abundance of clastic (boulders, pebbles) weakly rounded jade was recorded, concentrated in one local area - within a boulder-pebble spit with an area of ​​\u200b\u200babout 0.2 km2, stretching along the left bank of the river. Tsipy (from the mouth of the Khoyta River) at a distance of up to 700 m. More than 1 ton of jade was collected from this small area during the work. At the same time, in the channel deposits of the river. Khoyty boulders and jade pebbles were noted in limited quantities, and on the slopes of the valley (sloping and turfy) - in single specimens. This area of ​​jade concentration in alluvial deposits is the only one within the Vitim nephrite-bearing region that was studied by mining (ditches and bulldozer trenches) to a depth of 1.5 m, which showed a steady spread of jade in the thickness of the deposits. The established content of jade varied from 0.4 to 2.1 kg per m3, averaging 1.2 kg/m3. Fragments of jade are characterized by weak roundness.
The next site of jade concentration is confined to the lower reaches of the river. Tsipa (tract Eight), which is probably due to morphological factors - outcrops of valley basalts, on which oblique boulder-pebble deposits lie in a thin cloak and form shivers and brushes in the riverbed.
Single finds of jade boulders were also noted in the upper reaches of the river. Tsypy, above the Voymakan manifestation.
Halo distribution of jade in the basin of the river. Kalar is characterized by low saturation of jade boulders in alluvial deposits and is probably unpromising for identifying areas of concentration.

Jade is a semi-precious ornamental stone, in its composition there is an interlacing of crystalline fibers, due to which the stone has rather unusual properties. Another feature is its durability. It is 5 times stronger than granite and 2 times stronger than steel. It is absolutely impossible to break or split it without a special device, and thanks to this feature, it has been known about it since ancient times. In primitive times, mankind used it as hammers and axes.

History of jade

The stone was widely used in ancient civilizations. In many cultures, its importance was simply invaluable, since in some of them they even worshiped the mineral. The stone has gained such popularity due to its durability and the possibility of processing.

The Indians who lived in America have used stone in everyday life for several millennia. When meeting with the conquistadors, the Indians were at a loss from the indifference of strangers to jade, since they did not even know about its existence. According to some historians, Montezuma, the ruler of the Aztecs, learned from Cortes that the Spaniards were only interested in gold and silver.

In the southern part of America, stone was used to make products similar to modern piercings, which were worn as jewelry on the lips. Such products on the lips of a person testified to his readiness to be a servant of spirits. In some tribes, the number of such decorations was a sign of high position in society.

In New Zealand, the Maori made hei-tiki from jade - an amulet in the form of a portrait or figurine of a person who protected his master. The amulet was passed down from generation to generation, and when the last representative of the family died, the stone was buried with the person. This people valued jade so much that war often broke out between the Maori tribes because of it.

The Turkish people decorated rings, belts and weapon hilts with stone, as they believed that jade brings good luck in battle.

In ancient China, entire treatises were devoted to this mineral. For some time, the stone, along with metal coins, was used as a monetary unit. Weighing gold was carried out only with jade weights. Plates were made of stone, which later certified various letters. In ancient China, competitions were held between warriors, and the winner was awarded jade.

Lithophones, musical instruments made from this mineral, were very popular in the Celestial Empire. Among the greatest admirers of such an instrument was the ancient philosopher Confucius. Some inhabitants of the Celestial Empire made pillows from jade. However, only members of the imperial family could afford such pleasure.

jade colors

There is some misconception that jade is only green. However, the stone has a wide range of colors and shades. Jade comes in the following colors:

• light green, has an uneven and heterogeneous color and comes in yellowish green, light green and bluish green;
• bright green with a spectacular and saturated color with an uneven color;
• rich green;
• gray-green with a blurred pattern and noticeable spotting;
• greenish gray color;
• marsh color (greenish-brown) with greenish-brown veins;
• black color with a uniform color;
• white stone, which is a homogeneous jade with a greenish, bluish, grayish and yellowish tint. Jades in pure white do not exist in nature;
• emerald green - "imperial" is one of the most valuable types of jade;
• blue color, has an unusual name "dianite";
• red jade is the rarest type of stone;
• yellowish brown and brown.

white jade

Winged beast Ishou with a cub. Xinjiang white jade. China, Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

It differs from other varieties of this stone in its unusual magical abilities. It is valued mainly for its high strength and attractive appearance. Such a stone is able to warm not only the soul, but also the body. White jade perfectly cleanses thoughts of any negativity, and also significantly strengthens faith and spirit. Thanks to such abilities, he is respected in many world religions.

It strengthens faith in one's own strength and gives its owner peace and tranquility. It is especially good for logical thinking and mental abilities, and also provides significant assistance in various disputes.

What are the types of jade

Depending on the color and color saturation, the stone has 3 types of textures:

1. Homogeneous;
2. spotted;
3. Spotted and interspersed.

The homogeneous appearance of the stone has a high level of translucency. Due to the presence of bright colors, such jade is a valuable jewelry material.

As for spotted-disseminated and spotted nephrites, they contain various minerals, such as chlorites, carbonates, magnetites, hydroxites and iron. Due to the uneven distribution of inclusions and spots, the most unusual patterns on the surface are created. Such stones are often used to make pyramids, goblets, vases, caskets and facing materials.

Where is jade mined

Healing properties

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/ Mineral Jade

Jade is considered the stone of China. Signs of power were made from jade in China - wands, belts, headdresses. When walking, jade plates located on belts or headdresses made a melodic sound; jade is the only stone that makes a melodic sound. Wealthy Chinese made a jade pillow for themselves, which kept them cool in the heat. The tradition of jade pillows has been preserved in China to the present day and today is actively spread all over the world. Also in ancient China, there was a tradition and belief that jade is an eternal stone, so it was used for burial, and it was believed that the body would transform into stone and acquire its incorruptibility.

Jade is a dense and viscous cryptocrystalline (microcrystalline) fibrous variety of minerals in the tremolite-ferro-actinolite solid solution series, including actinolite, which, as of May 2015, continued to be listed as an IMA mineral.

Sometimes jade is considered as a rock, the bulk of which is made up of such varieties of minerals of a given series. A valuable ornamental stone (blue jade - dianite - is extremely rare and especially highly valued). Very viscous due to the interweaving of fine-grained fibers, and therefore very durable. At the break, the surface is uneven with sharp thin edges. Has a waxy sheen, incl. on polished surface at any degree of polishing. Very rare is the most valuable jewelry variety of jade - with the effect of a cat's eye.

Most of the jade deposits are located at the intrusion of intrusive igneous rocks into serpentinites. Rare deposits are known where jade was formed as a result of the impact of magma on magnesium-rich dolomites.

Jade has several names: "lumbar" or "kidney" stone. It received this name because of its similarity in appearance to the human kidney. Ancient people, due to the hardness of this stone twice as much as steel, made strong arrowheads from it. For this reason, the ancient name of jade is "ax stone". In China, jade was valued more than gold jewelry and ivory.

History of the stone

For many centuries, jade has been used to create various types of jewelry, religious and household items. Symbols of power were cut out of it and royal tombs and palaces got off with it. Now jade is used to make jewelry for women and talismans.

In ancient times, it was believed that jade has many healing properties: jade brings calm, cures kidney diseases. Small pebbles in appearance resemble a kidney. The amazing properties of jade - its strength (twice as strong as steel), viscosity, resistance to abrasion and acids have attracted people's attention to it since ancient times. Archaeological surveys have unearthed jade objects dating back to the Neolithic. Various tools and weapons were made from jade, amulets (mainly from white jade), figures of gods, and jewelry were carved. Jade is ideal for carving. It is a hard material that is not scratched by steel. Jade is mined in the mountains and along the banks of rivers. More valued jade pebbles, because it has a much greater density. Pebbles can be covered with traces of oxidation, which the craftsmen never remove and will certainly fit them into the composition of the craft, carving small details on the oxide.

Jade was especially popular in Ancient China, where it was valued so highly that plaques were made from it, which circulated on a par with coins; jade weights were the standard for weighing gold, and paired jade plates served as a passport for the emperor's envoys. Famous Chinese carvings are known all over the world: vases, bowls, caskets, animal figurines, pagodas, balls located one inside the other, and other jewelry. Jade until the middle of the XIX century. imported to Russia from China.

At this time, the Peterhof Lapidary Factory purchased dark green jade for a thousand rubles per pood, and for a higher quality the price doubled. In the middle of the XIX century. G. M. Permikin discovered jade boulders in the Eastern Sayan, and then the first primary deposit. Products of the Peterhof Lapidary Factory made of Sayan jade were demonstrated at the World Exhibitions in London and Paris in 1862 and 1867.

Locations Russia:

Bortogolskoye, Gorlykgolskoye, Ulankhodinskoye /now depleted/ and Ospinskoye deposits (to the west of Lake Baikal in the spurs of the Eastern Sayan along the rivers Onot and Biboy)

Buromskoye and Golyubinskoye deposits (bass of the Vitim river, Eastern Siberia) - placers of high-quality white, yellow, pale green (light green) and black jade.
Khamarkhudinskoye deposit in bass. R. Dzhidy (left tributary of the Selenga River, Buryatia).
Nyrdvomenshor deposit, Polyarny Ural

Foreign deposits

In the western spurs of the Kuen-Lun near Kashgar and Khotan and in the form of pebbles along the banks of rivers flowing from the spurs of these mountains (the ancient and most famous deposits); prov. British Columbia (Canada); in pcs. Montana, Alaska, Washington, California (USA); large deposits are also known in Australia, New Zealand (New Zealand material is distinguished by its high quality; it is translucent, has good color and is considered one of the best in the world), Brazil, Mexico, and Poland.

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Mineral properties

The total number of jade deposits in the world does not exceed fifty. Most often, this ornamental mineral forms small outcrops from the earth's crust, which in appearance resemble other rocks. The rarity of jade is explained by the peculiarities of its formation. In Russia, the deposits of Buryatia and Transbaikalia are the most promising. This mineral is highly valued in Asian countries, especially in China, where prices for it reach several thousand dollars per kilogram.

The nature of jade

Jade is a mineral of hydrothermal-metasomatic origin. Such rocks occur at shallow depths in the earth's crust, and their formation occurs under the influence of high pressure and hot mineralized aqueous solutions that circulate under the surface of the earth. The most common color is green, but there are others - white, gray, brown, black, yellowish, reddish and blue (the rarest).

In nature, this mineral is quite rare; primary deposits and boulder placers are of industrial interest. Since ancient times, a person has developed a special relationship with this stone. It was mined in the Neolithic era, and in China it is considered sacred to this day. Information about jade deposits was kept secret. Over time, many of them were forgotten. Therefore, in the XX century. geologists had to rediscover them.

In this regard, many may have a question whether jade is mined in Russia. Officially, mineral deposits were discovered in 1824 in the Eastern Sayan, and only 27 years later the first batch was mined there with a total weight of about 2 tons. After another 11 years, products from domestic jade were exhibited at the world exhibition in London.

The microstructure of the mineral has a tangled fibrous character, it is very difficult to split it. Therefore, in the past, people mainly collected it in mountain rivers, after the snow cover had melted. Jade was then perceived as a gift of nature, mined in hard-to-reach places.

Industrial types

Jade deposits in Russia are confined to alpine-type ultramafic rocks (parts of the mantle embedded in the earth's crust) and dolomite marbles, or rather, to the contact of two rocks of contrasting composition. Chemically non-equilibrium rocks exchange elements between each other, which leads to recrystallization. There is a hypothesis that this mineral is formed during the movement of serpentinites along tectonic faults. This is also confirmed by the fact that relict serpentinites are found in jade.

There are two main industrial types of the mineral - aposerpentinite (formed at the border with serpentinites and aluminosilicate rocks) and apocarbonate (at the contact of dolomitic marbles with granitized aluminosilicate rocks).

The last type of jade is characterized by light tones of color (from salad to pure white). They are much less common. About where white jade is mined in Russia is described below. Demand for them on the gem market has been constantly growing in recent decades and significantly exceeds supply, which explains the high price of the mineral (up to 10,000 US dollars per 1 kg). The color of the stone depends on the inclusions of iron and chromium. A large amount of iron gives it a dark color, and chromium - emerald green.

Application

In the Neolithic era, jade was used to make knives, axes, arrowheads and spears, various amulets, figurines and jewelry were carved from it. This stone served as a hallmark of high position.

Jade stone-cutting and jewelry business flourished in China in the 17th and 18th centuries. Bowls, chess, animal figurines, balls, attributes of imperial power were sharpened from it. At that time, the mineral was valued above gold, and plaques made from it were in use instead of money.

In Russia, jade is mined for use in jewelry (making inserts in silver and gold items, cabochons, beads, balls and figurines), as well as for export. A distinctive feature of the mineral is its increased strength, surpassing that of steel. At the same time, jade has a relatively low hardness (5.5-6 units on the Mohs scale), which makes it easy to cut and polish. The "viscosity" of the stone makes it possible to produce very complex carvings with many curved surfaces.

Jade is practically the only material from which durable jewelry rings can be made. Other stones break quickly when worn, as they do not resist stretching well. In the times of Tsarist Russia, stone-cutting factories also made caskets, cigarette cases, toilet utensils, plates and other items from it. But most of all, this stone is revered in China, where jade products are passed down from generation to generation as a family heirloom, huge collections are collected, works of art are created, and even festivals are dedicated to this mineral.

Discovery of deposits

The first deposits where jade was mined in Russia were located on the Onot River. It flows through the territory of Buryatia and the Irkutsk region and is one of the largest rivers of the Eastern Sayan. At the end of the XIX century. mining engineer Yachevsky found the first indigenous vein on the Khara-Zhalga stream, and in the 30s. 20th century Soviet geologist Shestopalov discovered jade veins on the Ilchir and Khusha-Gol rivers. All these rivers are located in the Okinsky district of Buryatia. These hard-to-reach mountainous and gorge places are sparsely populated to this day.

There are two main deposits where jade mining in Russia has reached a large industrial scale: Ospinskaya (Ilchir river basin) and Ulan-Khodinskaya. In the Baikal-Sayan province there are a number of mineral deposits located on a relatively small area:

• Gorlykgolskoye (Khusha-Gol River) is the largest, but the quality of jade is low.
• Arakhushanzhalginskoe - loose large-boulder.
• Bortogolskoe.
• Zunospinskoye (fully worked out at the moment).
• Khamarkhudinskoe - jade smoky gray with a yellowish or greenish tint.
• Kharganty.
• Khangarul.
• Khokhurtovskoye (river Khokhyurta).
• Boldoktinskoye (R. Boldokto) - placer deposit, and others.

Modern large deposits

Currently, 98% of jade reserves are located in three areas:

• Vostochno-Sayansky (Ulankhodinskoye, Zunospinskoye, Ospinskoye, Gorlykgolskoye, Arakhushanzhalginskoye deposits).
• Dzhidinsky (along the rivers Boldokto, Khokhurta, Ukhabyr).
• Vitimsky (Buromskoye, Golyubinskoye deposits).

In total, about eighty veins of jade and dozens of its placers were found in the mountain system of the Eastern Sayan and in Transbaikalia.

Ospinskoye and Ulankhodinskoye deposits

The best veins of jade stone in Russia were discovered at the Ospinsky deposit. Minerals of this origin are characterized by a bright apple-green color, as well as the effect of a "cat's eye". The field consists of two sections - Ilchirsky and Ospinsky, located at a distance of 1 km from each other. 9 nephrite-bearing veins were found here. The sixth of them, with high-quality jade (large pieces up to 1 m 3 without cracks and inclusions) was developed until 2011.

Ulankhodinskoye deposit. At present, it can only be considered in a historical aspect, since it has been fully developed, like the Zunospinskoye. The quality of the jade is lower than that of the Ospin deposit. Developments were carried out on the northern slope of the Ulan-Khoda mountain and in the upper reaches of the Khara-Zhelga river.

Udokan deposit

It is located in the Trans-Baikal Territory, on the Tsipa River (the left tributary of the Vitim) in the north of Buryatia (Bauntovsky District). To a greater extent, it has also been worked out. A feature of the extraction of jade in Russia at this deposit is that olive-yellow minerals were found here, approaching in their decorative properties to “golden” (or “honey”) jade, which is very rare and is valued more than white.

Minerals of light green color predominate in the deposit, and their main defect is fracturing, which determines the small size of the blocks being mined. Here, in the basin of the Kalar River, boulders and pebbles of high-quality white jade were found. The cost of this stone, mined in the Bauntovsky Evenk region of Buryatia, reaches $5,000 per kilogram, which exceeds the price of gold. Other deposits of white jade are known only in China, Australia, and in Russia this stone was also found in the middle reaches of the Vitim River.

Jades of Altai

Altai nephrites were discovered in the 60s. 20th century The deposits are small and located in the following locations:

• Charysh-Terektinsky deep fault (Terektinsky ridge) - from the village of Kaitanak to the Koir River (Akkem, Baltyrgan, Aryskan, Tomul, Muinokh manifestations, which are located mainly near streams);
• Kurai fault;
• Shalap fault;
• rivers Akkem (village Chagan-Uzun), Cheremshanka.

Altai minerals of low quality: dirty green, fractured. According to some estimates, the total reserves of jade in Altai are about 200 tons.

Small deposits where jade is mined in Russia

Small jade deposits have also been found in the following regions:

• in the Republic of Tuva (Bilinsky deposit);
• in the Southern Urals (Naraly Mountains);
• in Bashkortostan (Uchalinsky district, Nizhny Iremel river);
• in the Chelyabinsk region (mountain Big Bikilyar)
• in the Republic of Sakha (Selennyakh River);
• in the north of Kamchatka (Kuyul massif).

In these places, the mineral is also of low quality, as a rule, of a greenish marsh color.

Mining methods

Deposits where jade is mined in Russia are developed by 2 methods:

• Open pit in quarries using heavy equipment (bulldozers, excavators). In Buryatia, about 90% of all nephrites are obtained this way. Raw materials are taken out along taiga roads, winter roads (roads that are operated only in winter) or helicopters.
• Collecting pellets (boulders and pebbles) at the bottom of rivers. This is the most dangerous method of extraction, but this type of raw material is highly valued - its price is ten times higher than the price of a mineral mined in a quarry. These works require scuba gear, compressors and highly qualified divers.