Identification guide · Minerals
How to Identify Jade
Jade is variable in color with a vitreous luster and is opaque. It has a Mohs hardness of 5. A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not. It is most often confused with Heliodor, Calcite, and Diopside; the tests below separate them.
Jade identification checklist
| Luster | Vitreous | Fresh surfaces shine like glass; a dull surface usually means weathering, so chip or wet a corner. |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | Opaque | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 5 | A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not. |
| Fracture | Uneven to conchoidal | Broken surfaces show smooth, curved, shell-like scoops. |
| Specific gravity | 2.7 | Ordinary rock-like heft (specific gravity about 2.7), similar to quartz. |
Extra tests for Jade
Glass check. Jade shares a glassy luster and conchoidal fracture with man-made glass. Glass sits near Mohs 5.5 and often contains round gas bubbles, so a hardness test and a hand lens separate them.
Jade look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Both sit near Mohs 5, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Jade vs Heliodor →
Jade is harder (Mohs 5) than Calcite (Mohs 3), so Jade will scratch Calcite and not the other way round. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Jade vs Calcite →
Diopside is harder (Mohs 5.5–6.5) than Jade (Mohs 5), so Diopside will scratch Jade and not the other way round. A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not. Jade vs Diopside →
Feldspar is harder (Mohs 6–6.5) than Jade (Mohs 5), so Feldspar will scratch Jade and not the other way round. A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not.
Jade identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Jade?
Check the color (variable), the vitreous luster, a Mohs hardness of 5. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Jade?
Jade has a Mohs hardness of 5. A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not.
What is the difference between Jade and Heliodor?
Jade (Mohs 5, vitreous luster) and Heliodor (Mohs 5, vitreous luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Jade vs Heliodor comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Jade worth anything?
Entry-level Jade specimens sell for around $2, typical collector pieces about $20, and premium examples $150 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Jade?
Jade is most often . Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
