• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 2008

The Gemological characteristics of B.C. jade from Cassiar Mine, British Colombia, Canada, have been investigated, using polarizing microscopy, Mohs' hardness, refractive index and density measurements, X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, ICP-MS, Infrared absorption spectrometry, and DTA/TGA. The B.C. jade is deeply green (spinach peen or olive green) in color and is translucent. It shows a resinous or waxy luster. The principal mineral of the material is tremolite-actinolite solid solution and minor amount of Cr-garnet and unidentified opaque minerals are accompanied. Mohs' hardness value ($5.5{\sim}6$). refractive index (1.62), and specific gravity (3.01) are measured. It is very highly tough and shows hackly fracture. The high Fe content ($Fe_2O_3\;4.14{\sim}4.66\;wt%$) in B.C. jade is attributable to a deepening of green color of the material. The B.C. jade starts to dehydrate at v and dehydration is completed at $1000.8^{\circ}C$, transforming tremolite-actinolite solid solution to enstatite, diopside, quartz, and water in its place. This possible reaction is supported by the weight loss of B.C. jade (1.93 wt%) at $1000.8^{\circ}C$ indicated by TGA curve.