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Hello, I've searched high an low on google to try and find what this item is, so far I know it's a water buffalo and possibly Jade. I've tried scratching the base with a needle, does not mark, cold to the touch and does have a waxy feel. I've also looked at various forms and colours of Jade but haven't been able to find any samples that that resemble mine.
The buffalo was left to me back in the sixties and has been popping up every ten years or so. I've been meaning to try and find out what this is ever since so here goes. The buffalo measures length 50mm, width 24mm, height 15mm. I'd appreciate any help.

Based on the translucency and the appearance of its material, I doubt very much it was made of either nephrite jade or jadeite. Since you said it could not be scratched, therefore it may appear to be made of some types of agate or quartz. However its color and transparency really bother me and it looks like some of these Hongshan style "crystal" pieces that were once readily available on eBay, only found out that they were actually made of glass. Since glass is extremely slippery on its surface it is therefore very difficult to perform any scratch tests. Only by accident when I broke a corner of a study piece that I discovered it was made of glass. Without personally examining or testing your piece, I would not know for sure. In my opinion, the material of this piece is simply not worth the time or money to test it. Sorry. Just hope you would enjoy it.

This has been in the family for many years, probably more than 50 years so isn't a recent fake. It weighs more than you'd think for it's size.

Right, local soft jade, modern (poor) carving style...after 1950'

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