1Q4. ANALYSIS OF JADE. 



vr. 



Analysis of Jade; read to the Society of Natural History 

 and Philosophy at Geneva, Dec. 5, 1805: by Theodore 

 DE Saussure*. 



SSeiTof jTde. ^ NDER the name of jade are generally comprised cer- 

 tain stones, not crystallized, remarkable for a greasy or oily 

 appearance; a colour between waxy white and leek green, 

 inclining sometimes to a blue, sorrietimes to a gray; a dull, 

 greasy, scaly, and not lamellar fracture ; extreme tenacity; 

 hardriess capable of scratching rock crystal ; and lastly, a 

 density superior to that of feldtspar or petrosilex. 

 Two stones Two stones, which have been considered only as varieties 



thTorfental or ^^ ^^^^ same species, unite all these characters in an eminent 

 lapis nephriii- degree. One of these is the oriental jade, or lapis nephri- 

 ' ticus, which Mr. Haiiy calls jade nephretique. This comes 



from China and the Levant, but we know not its situation 

 in the earth. It is celebrated for the property ascribed to it 

 \>y the Eastern nations of curing the renal colic, and allay- 

 ing the pain of the stone. It is known in Europe only by 

 the amulets, vases, and other pieces of sculpture brought 

 from the places where it is native. 

 and one found The other, considered by most mineralogists as a variety 



m Europe, te- ^^ ^|^g oriental iade, is found in several parts of Europe. 

 nacious jadt. i n i ■ i- r 



My father was the first who made it known, after having 



found it on the borders of the Leman lake f Voyages dans 



les Alpes, § 112^, on those of the Durance, at Musinet 



near Turin, and in other places. From the name of the 



lake it was called lemanite by Mr. de la Metherie, who has 



well distinguished it from the oriental jade. Mr. Haiiy has 



called it tenacious jade; and several authors have mentioned 



Characters of it by the name of Saussure's jade. This stone resembles 



this stone. |.j^g oriental jade in colour, hardness, tenacity, and fracture: 



the oriental! ^"* '*' ^'^'^''^ i" ^^^ Specific gravity, which is greater; in its 



transparency, which is less; and in its fusion, which is more 



easy, and aifords a perfect glass, with a smooth, conchqidal 



• yTournal des Mines, No. Ill, |>. 205. 



fracture, 



