Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t9: On Jade
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t9
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On Jade
v2.c43.s3.t9.1
Actinolite means ‘ray’ in Greek, and is a typical calcium-magnesium-iron (fibrous) amphibole silicate Ca₂ (Mg,Fe)₅ (OH)₂(Si₄O₁₁)₂. Substitution by aluminium in this structure results in hard and intertwining fibres and a family of gem minerals known as Jade. These minerals may have hardness only 6-7, sometimes 5-1/2 in the Moh’s scale and yet, on account of the fibrous structure these are exceptionally tough and difficult to fracture.
v2.c43.s3.t9.2
Nephrite belongs to the amphibole group (double chain in the molecular level) whereas jadeite and chloromelanite belong to the single chain of pyroxene group. Nephrite may be white or green, due to iron and manganese. Apple-green or emerald green jadeite is so coloured, due to the presence of chromium. Black colour of chloromelanite is due to excess concentration of iron in the structure.
v2.c43.s3.t9.3
Nephrite quarries in the Central Asia, in the Kuen-Lun mountains, Nan-Shan mountains in China etc. have been widely known. There is some nephrite in the southern part of the Mirzapur district in India. Good reserves of chloromelanite and jadeite (*yu* in Chinese) occur in the sub-division of Mogoung in Upper Burma.
v2.c43.s3.t9.4
The jade materials have been very popular in China and Central Asia, and extensively used to make a wide range of plates, bowls, vases, sword-handles and idols.
v2.c43.s3.t9.5
A large number of Buddha images have been made out of jade, and in this connection use of jade became popular in India. Tagore quoted (1879: 512-13) a Sanskrit text describing *pilu* or jade as ‘smoke-coloured, white or green shaded with white, and hard, non-transparent and slightly lustrous’:
v2.c43.s3.t9.6
धूम्रं सितं श्वेतहरित् कठोरम् अस्वच्छम् अल्पाभमतीव पीलु dhūmraṃ sitaṃ śvetaharit kaṭhoram asvaccham alpābhamatīva pīlu
v2.c43.s3.t9.7
During the Muslim period of Indian history, jade was known not only as pīlu but also as yasam and jaharmuhrā. We have indicated earlier that pīlu stood for agate-carnelian also.