AllMineralsRock
Jadeite Vs. Quartz
Jadeite is a very popular mineral composed of sodium aluminum silicate.[1] Quartz is also a very popular gemstone and its chemical composition is silicon dioxide.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Jadeite and Quartz
For a quick recap of the differences jadeite and quartz:- While both jadeite and quartz can be opaque or translucent, quartz can be transparent.
- In terms of crystallography, jadeite is monoclinic while quartz can be hexagonal or trigonal.
- For chemical formulas, jadeite is NaAlSi2O6 while quartz is SiO2.
- While both jadeite and quartz can be greasy, vitreous or waxy, in terms of luster, jadeite can be pearly.
- While both jadeite and quartz can be commonly yellow, jadeite is often blue, green or white and quartz can be commonly red.
- Jadeite's rarity is more rare than quartz.
- Jadeite's specific gravity is higher than quartz - jadeite ranges from 3.25 to 3.34 and quartz ranges from 2.651 to 2.91.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Jadeite and Quartz
The similarities of jadeite and quartz include:- Jadeite and quartz both streak white.
- Jadeite's hardness overlaps with quartz - jadeite ranges from 6.5 to 7 and quartz is 7 on the Moh's scale.
Summary of Jadeite
Jadeite is a mineral that belongs to the pyroxene group and is one of two types of jade, the other being nephrite. Jadeite is a sodium aluminum silicate with a hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, making it a relatively hard mineral. It is usually found in shades of green, but it can also appear in white, pink, yellow, and blue colors. Jadeite is primarily found in Myanmar, but it can also be found in other countries such as Guatemala, Japan, and Russia.Summary of Quartz
Quartz is a mineral that is composed of silicon and oxygen atoms arranged in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen tetrahedra. It is one of the most abundant minerals found in the Earth's crust. Quartz can be found in a variety of colors such as white, pink, purple, brown, gray, and black. It is also known for its unique crystal structure, which is hexagonal in shape, and its hardness, which is 7 on the Mohs scale.Table Comparison of Jadeite vs Quartz
| Jadeite (src) | Quartz (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | translucent, opaque | transparent, translucent, opaque |
| Chemical Formula | NaAlSi2O6 | SiO2 |
| Chemical Composition | sodium aluminum silicate | silicon dioxide |
| Specific Gravity | 3.25, 3.34, 3.36 | 2.651, 2.91 |
| Hardness | 6.5, 7 | 7 |
| Streak | white | white |
| Crystallography | monoclinic | hexagonal, trigonal |
| Refractive Index | 1.64, 1.667 | 1.544, 1.553 |
| Hydrous | No | No |
| Colors | common: green, yellow, blue, white sometimes: red, brown, purple less common: gray, pink, black, orange, violet, colorless, band, multicolor |
common: red, yellow sometimes: blue, gray, pink, black, brown, green, white, orange, purple, violet, colorless, multicolor |
| Category | pyroxene | silicate |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.013 - 0.020 | δ = +0.009 (B-G interval) |
| Fracture | splintery, uneven | conchoidal, uneven |