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Re: Scrap test and frosty cut line

Posted By: Bill
Posted Date: Dec 05, 2007 (10:12 AM)

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It is definitely nephrite when I first looked at it and not serpentine. If there is one thing I can tell with high accuracy it will be the material. Of course there is a slight possibility it can be bowenite and in that case, a scratch test will not be able to tell because bowenite (a type of serpentine) will have a hardness of 5 to 5.5 and will pass the scratch test. Only a specific gravity test can tell (S.G. for bowenite or serpentine will be between 2.5 to 2.7 and for nephrite will be 2.90 and higher, for jadeite will be 3.2 and higher. Some use different numbers.) (*The texture of this piece does not look like serpentine, but rather nephrite.)

I agree with Ernest, Larry that this piece may be modern but I do not believe it was made recently. I think it has to be made at least 10 or 20 years old due to its manual tool marks.

If this is indeed made of nephrite and with such large piece, even in today's market, it may not be real cheap. The brown stain on the surface may be able to be washed off but the one deep inside the jade structure may be another story. It can be soaked in soapy water overnight to see if any of its color may come off. Of course, it may not have any collector's value for most advanced jade collectors. However, you should just enjoy a piece like that especially if you like it. It is much better than many tourist pieces we see today.

Bill

Thanks for Larry's inputs.

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Re: Re: Scrap test and frosty cut line - Gman - Dec 05, 2007 (12:18 PM)