AllMineralsRock
Amber Vs. Jade
Amber is a very popular gemstone composed of fossilized tree resin.[1] Jade is also a very popular gemstone and its chemical composition is sodium aluminum silicate.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Amber and Jade
For a quick recap of the differences amber and jade:- While both amber and jade can be opaque or translucent, amber can be transparent.
- For chemical formulas, amber is fossilized tree resin while jade is NaAlSi2O6.
- In terms of luster, amber can be greasy or resinous while jade can be vitreous or waxy.
- While both amber and jade can be commonly green, amber is often blue, red or yellow.
- Amber's rarity is less rare than jade.
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Amber's hardness is lower than jade - amber ranges from 2 to 2.5 and jade ranges from 6 to 7 on the Moh's scale.
- Amber can be scratched by copper pennies (3.5), the average knife blade (4.5), glass (5.5) or quartz (7) while jade can not be.
- Amber's specific gravity is lower than jade - amber ranges from 1.05 to 1.08 and jade ranges from 2.9 to 3.38.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Amber and Jade
The similarities of amber and jade include:- Amber and jade both streak white.
Summary of Amber
Amber is a fossilized tree resin that has been prized for its beauty and healing properties for thousands of years. It is a mineral that has been formed over millions of years from the sap of ancient trees that was buried and compressed under sediment. The result is a translucent, golden gemstone that has become a popular material for jewelry, decorative objects, and even medicinal remedies.Summary of Jade
Jade is a mineral that has been highly valued for thousands of years across many cultures. It is a compact, dense stone that is tough and durable, making it ideal for carving and jewelry making. Jade comes in a variety of colors, including green, white, brown, and black, and can be translucent or opaque.Table Comparison of Amber vs Jade
| Amber (src) | Jade (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | transparent, translucent, opaque | translucent, opaque |
| Chemical Formula | fossilized tree resin | NaAlSi2O6 |
| Chemical Composition | fossilized tree resin | sodium aluminum silicate |
| Specific Gravity | 1.05, 1.08, 1.096 | 2.9, 3.38 |
| Hardness | 2, 2.5 | 6, 7 |
| Streak | white | white |
| Hydrous | No | No |
| Colors | common: red, blue, green, yellow sometimes: brown, cream, orange, white, violet |
common: green sometimes: red less common: blue, gray, pink, black, brown, white, orange, purple, yellow, band, multicolor |