Color is extremely important for gemstones, as it is their most direct and easily recognizable characteristic, and also a crucial factor in determining their value. Jadeite, being a gemstone with the widest variety of colors, can be best understood by starting with its color.
Jadeite comes in a wide array of colors. To describe the green alone, there are said to be 36 shades of water-like greens, 72 bean greens, and 108 blue hues.
Primary Colors and Secondary Colors are Differentiated by Geological Origin of Jadeite.
A. Primary Colors:
Often referred to as the "flesh" of jadeite, these colors are formed underground through various geological processes, closely related to the mineral elements and composition of jadeite during its crystallization. They are relatively stable colors and cannot be
dissolved by acid treatment.Primary colors include colorless transparent, white, green, yellow-green, blue-green, gray (oily blue), black, purple, and blue colors. They are caused by color-inducing ions such as Cr, Fe, Mg within the hard jadeite structure or by primary minerals (chromium iron ore, sodium chromium pyroxene, chromium-rich jadeite, green pyroxene, hornblende, etc.).
B. Secondary Colors:
Often referred to as the "skin" of jadeite, these colors are formed through external geological processes. When jadeite reaches the earth's surface, its environment changes significantly due to factors like temperature variations, oxidation, and moisture, resulting in physical and chemical weathering on its surface. Iron in the jadeite forms iron oxide, permeating the interstices or micro-cracks of the jadeite crystals, giving rise to colors that are not intrinsic to the jadeite crystals. These colors are chemically unstable and can be dissolved using strong acid. Secondary colors include yellow, red, and gray (oily blue). They are caused by secondary minerals formed during metamorphism, such as limonite, hematite, and green clay minerals.
In general, the primary colors of jadeite are the colors formed during the jadeite's own natural formation process, include colorless transparent, white, green, yellow-green, blue-green, gray (oily blue), black, purple, and blue colors. While the secondary colors are the colors resulting from external factors, include yellow, red, and gray (oily blue).