Jade's Mysteries Unlocked
Sinkankas Symposium explores the many varieties of a long-treasured gem

By Robert Weldon

Crane and lotus flower jade carving from China. Photo by Wimon Manorotkul, courtesy of Pala Inernatinal, Fallbrook, California

Jadeite jade and nephrite jade, for centuries beloved in the Far East, remain mysterious gems in the Western world. More than 140 curious admirers attended the fifth annual Sinkankas Symposium, held on April 21 at GIA's Carlsbad campus, and confirmed the notion that there is, indeed, great interest in the gem material.

Roger Merk, a self-described jade devotee based in San Diego, California, organized the event, co-sponsored by the San Diego Mineral & Gem Society and GIA.

Merk said it was the most successful Sinkankas Symposium ever, with a great mix of highly qualified speakers. "It was a terrific event because it concentrated so much knowledge in one place with so many people who appreciated the information," he said.

Experts spoke about jadeite and nephrite – the two distinct members of the jade family – deposits around the world, trends in the jade jewelry market, gemological characteristics of the varieties, tips for fashioning the material and clues to understand jade's many quality characteristics.

Attendees were also able to view dazzling jade carvings and displays, such as the "Eight Immortals" jadeite carving donated to GIA by Sophie Leu, a jadeite mask donated by Mary Lou Ridinger, and a selection of natural-color jadeite donated by Mason-Kay, Inc.

White jade carved bowl with gold inlay and gemstones. Photo by Wimon Manorotkul, courtesy of Pala Inernatinal, Fallbrook, California

The annual educational event is in honor of acclaimed mineralogist, John Sinkankas, who passed away in 2002. Previous topics included quartz, tourmaline, beryl and phenomenal stones. Garnets will be the focus of next year's event; the exact date is not determined.

Highlights from this year's speakers included:

Jades of the World
Author and photographer Fred Ward's presentation provided a full spectrum of information about jadeite and nephrite varieties. He spoke about occurrences in Burma, Canada, Guatemala and Russia and illustrated his talk with his photographs of carvings and localities. He peppered his presentation with historical facts and information about jade carving symbolism. China's Ming Dynasty, for example, loved horses and used them as motifs for carvings, "which were especially prized if two colors of jade were represented."

Nomenclature of Jade
Si Frazier, researcher and author, talked about various types of natural jade and included information about jade simulants, such as green volcanic ash in silica, aventurine quartz, prase and man-made glass, highlighting the differences between them and jade. He also referenced its toughness. "All jade is tough," he said, "but nephrite is toughest due to the interwoven nature of the actinolite fibers found in the material. As a matter of fact, even low-quality nephrite is so tough that it makes a resilient hammering anvil to use in the jewelry-making process."

Current Guatemalan Jade Market
Jade expert and archaeologist Mary Lou Ridinger focused on jadeite from Guatemala's Motagua River Valley, which has been exploited since Mayan times. Ridinger has developed several concessions to mine specific areas in the region and operates a vertically integrated business with manufacturing facilities, museums and showrooms in Guatemala. "The mission of our business in Guatemala has always been to mine with care to protect the environment, not exploit workers or subject Guatemalan jadeite to bleaching treatments," she said. "We are adamant about protecting Guatemalan Maya archaeology and never trade in archaeological artifacts." She described green, lilac, black and "galactic" (which has metallic inclusions sprinkled through the material) varieties of jadeite and noted that a form of blue jade has also been found there.

Carved jade Chinese buckles. Photo by Wimon Manorotkul, courtesy of Pala Inernatinal, Fallbrook, California

Burmese Jadeite Mining
World traveler and author Richard Hughes described an arduous journey he took more than a decade ago into a remote valley in Upper Burma (now Myanmar), the classic source for the world's finest jadeite. Hughes noted that the area has been mined for centuries, with no apparent concerns about environmental impact. "Fifty trucks at a time, in convoys, come out of the jade area," he said. Hughes compared the geologic devastation of the area to the construction of the pyramids, except that this was a "destruction rather than construction." He noted that the area continues to be mined at a very rapid pace and that Myanmar continues to break records at its yearly jade auctions.

How to Carve Jade
Dale Blankenship, who has developed an expertise in jadeite carving in the United States, spoke about the various tools and processes he employs to design and create his carvings. He also spoke about the challenges and joys associated with carving various types of jadeite and nephrite.

Microworld of Jade
John Koivula, microphotographer and chief gemologist at the GIA Laboratory, said inclusions in gemstones provide an accurate picture of where gems come from and how they were formed. He spoke about jadeites from around the world, noting the key inclusions that can be found in them. "We have to get used to the idea that Mother Nature cooks in a very dirty kitchen, and it is one which allows us to understand how gem materials form," he said. He also covered identifying characteristics for dye and polymer impregnation treatments in jadeite and nephrite.

Color in Jade
Dr. George Rossman, a professor at California Institute of Technology and a GIA governor, provided the scientific perspective on jade, examining causes of color in its various types. He also described the sophisticated instrumentation he uses to determine the cause of color in the gems.