Natural White Nephrite Jade Big Barrel Beads, 13mm, 15.5 inch strand/29 Beads
White Nephrite Jade is a rare calcium-magnesium-iron amphibole mineral aggregate valued for its high purity, tight interlocking fibrous structure, and toughness. Nephrite Jade has low iron and impurity content, which gives it a pale to white appearance instead of green. Nephrite is one of the toughest natural gemstones on Earth because of its dense, interlocking micro-fibers. The historic and most prized source is the Hotan and Yarkand riverbeds in the Xinjiang autonomous region, where white nephrite occurs as river boulders (Hetian jade). White nephrite is also mined in Qinghai Province, though it often mixes with gray or black tones here.
