Agate vs Jade: What Are They, And What's The Difference?

People seek, buy, and use precious stones for all kinds of reasons.

If you believe in a stone’s ability to help you through difficulties in life, then you may be especially keen on agate and jade.

The following article offers comparisons and contrasts of agate and jade in ways that will help you identify and understand the respective meanings of the two stones.

Agate vs Jade: A Head-to-Head Comparison

The best way to begin a discussion of agate and jade is to lay out the basic features of the two stones as they appear in nature.

Here we go…

1. What is Agate?

Agate is a common rock formation that consists of chalcedony and quartz.

Agate tends to be found in volcanic rocks, and it comes in a wide variety of colors.

2. What is Jade?

Jade is not a rock; it is a mineral.

It appears most commonly in green, but it can come in yellow and white.

There are two types of jade: nephrite and jadeite.

The first is in the amphibole group of minerals, and the second is in the pyroxene group of minerals.

3. Similarities and Differences

Agate has good light transmittance and fine particles, which makes it hard to carve.

Jade has very poor light transmission properties, but it is very easy to carve.

The outside of the agate rock is very bright.

Inside, it has many different color bands that are evenly distributed.

If you cut an agate rock open, you can see concentric, corrugated, layered, or parallel bands; and they come in grey, white, red, green, light brown, and light blue.

Jade, on the other hand, is quite simple.

A green jade piece will be green inside and out.

The same goes for the other two colors the mineral is found in.

The textures of the two stones are also different.

Agate comes in a variety of irregular shapes and levels of thickness.

Striped, fire, moss, and onyx agate are just some of the stone’s patterns and postures.

There is little variance in the texture of jade.

Indeed, the fewer the blemishes and cracks in the stone, the better the quality.

The two stones have little in common physically, and it is nearly impossible to confuse them.

The challenge is to identify the two stones properly in the first place, and, especially in the case of jade, to verify their authenticity.

This is what we will turn to next.

How to Identify Agate

One of the interesting things about agate is that it can be easily found in nature.

In the United States, agate is common along the shores of Lake Superior, in northeast Minnesota, and northwest Wisconsin.

You can identify the rock by its orange and yellow appearance.

You will not be able to tell much by the size and weight of the rock, but if it has been broken you may be able to discern traces of a quartz-like material along with red, brown, and orange color bands inside.

A feeling of waxiness is also a sign that you may have found an agate.

You should also examine the stone for a curved or wave-like pattern.

These are called conchoidal fractures, and they are common in this type of rock.

How to Identify Jade

It is not so easy to find jade in the rough.

It is a mineral that is used in precious stones, which means that most large deposits of jade are controlled by corporations.

It is more useful to discuss how to identify the refined and polished jade that you would find in stores.

Here are a few tips to distinguish authentic from fake jade:

1. Hold It Under a Light

Put the gemstone under a high-intensity light and carefully inspect it.

Look for impurities that resemble vein-like fibers.

If you find them, it is a good thing.

It means that the stone is real.

If you see bubbles in the stone, then it is not genuine.

2. Scratch Test

To do this test, you will need a metal object such as a needle, knife, or pair of scissors.

Once you have such a tool in hand, scratch the surface of the jade.

If the metal leaves a clear scratch on the stone, then the jade is probably fake.

Metal does not leave a mark on real jade.

3. Sound Test

If you have a good ear, then you should do a sound test on the stone.

Real jade is very dense and tends to be heavier than other gemstones of the same size.

If you tap the stone against a metal object, it should produce a bell-like clinking sound.

What People Believe About the Agate and Jade

Life is hard sometimes, and everyone is looking for a way to make themselves feel a little better.

Here are some of the common beliefs about agate and jade.

These are not scientifically-verified facts.

They are meanings that have been attributed to the two stones over the years.

1. Beliefs About Agate

It is said that agate can soothe and relieve stress to help connect the person who wears it to the energy of the Earth.

This is meant to bring harmony to the wearer.

The agate stone is said thought to be helpful to anyone who feels unbalanced, as it is said to have soft vibrations that can assist the troubled person’s life.

2. Beliefs About Jade

Jade is widely accepted as a healing gemstone.

It has been used throughout the world as a lucky charm for thousands of years.

According to many, wearing a jade bracelet or necklace invites wealth and opportunities into your life.

It is thought to help achieve goals by encouraging positive energy and emotions.

Wearing jade could enhance the amount of peace, harmony, and wisdom you experience.

It is thought that it not only enriches your inner world but your outer world as well.

Many people believe that jade brings prosperity to their business and professional life and greater happiness to their family.

Green jade is also used in matters of the heart.

It can be used to attract love and romance, and to open your heart to new possibilities in these areas.

In Summary

If you are into stones, then you should get the one that is right for your life situation.

There is no harm in exploring the healing, improving, and soothing qualities of agate and jade.

Sometimes things change for the better in life because we believe strongly that they can.

If an agate or jade stone helps you get to that mindset, then you should not hesitate to wear one or the other.