China, as a consumer of jadeite raw stone, has a history of 400-500 years. Four or five hundred years ago, a large number of jadeite original stones were transported to China from the place of origin, and the jadeite of "Imperial Jade" was imported to China through border cities such as Tengchong and Ruili in Yunnan.
In addition to the original jadeite stone produced in Myanmar, there are a few jadeite producing areas such as central Kazakhstan, coastal mountainous areas of California, Guatemala, Mexico, Honshu, Japan, etc., but neither quality nor quantity can be compared with the jadeite in Myanmar.
The best jadeite in the world is produced in Myanmar. It can be said that this country is the only place in the world that produces high-quality jadeite.
The primary jadeite in Myanmar, namely the top jadeite, is produced in Lu Wu River (a tributary of Qindun River, also known as "Wuhe" and "Wuyuhe") in northern Myanmar. The mining area is distributed in the metamorphic rock belt of Early Tertiary. The rocks that make up the metamorphic belt include serpentine, glaucophane schist, actinolite schist, serpentine pure sandstone and chlorite schist, and these schists are cut by granite veins in some areas. Jadeite vein is located in serpentine in Dumao area. The jadeite ore body is veined and lenticular, forming a long and thick ore belt.
The sub-hard jadeite in Myanmar contains jadeite gravel, which is distributed in the upper reaches of Lu Wu. High-quality jadeite gravel often has a fine brown shell, which is an important symbol to distinguish primary jadeite (mountain material) from secondary jadeite (seed material). The most famous jadeite mining area in Myanmar covers an area of about 13 square kilometers, only 150 kilometers away from the China-Myanmar border.
Schematic diagram of geological structure containing jadeite in northern Myanmar?
1. Modern alluvium
2. Early Tertiary gravel
3. Precambrian granite
4. Precambrian marble
5. glaucophane schist and other schists
6.serpentine olivine
7. Emerald deposit
8. Ruby deposit