Is Jade Magnetic? (ANSWERED)

Yes, jade is magnetic.

The remainder of this article will give you an in depth look at Jade, what it looks like, where it came from and what it’s used for.

Is Jade Magnetic? (ANSWERED)

Introduction

Green Jade (Jadeite and Nephrite) is a crystalline structure that contains iron and exhibits moderate to strong magnetism.

Jade imitations such as green dyed Chalcedony or dyed Calcite or imitations made from green polymers are all inert, meaning they are chemically inactive.

However, natural green Jade look-alikes such as Serpentine, Australian Prehnite, Hydrogrossular Garnet and some Chrysoprase cannot be distinguished from genuine Jade by magnetic response because they are also moderate to strongly magnetic.

What Is Jade?

The mineral referred to as “Jade” can actually be of one of two different silicate minerals: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium in the amphibole group of minerals), or jadeite (a silicate of aluminum and sodium in the pyroxene group of minerals.

Jade is mostly known for its green varieties, though it appears naturally in other colors as well, notably yellow, white, brown and black.

For centuries Jade has been well known throughout the entire world, but it is culturally most popular in East Asian, South Asian, Mexico and Guatemala.

Dushan Jade has been collected since 6000 BC.

Researchers, in the Yin Ruins of the Shang Dynasty (1600 to 1050 BC), have found Dushan Jade ornaments in the tomb of the Shang kings.

Today, jade mines aren’t so abundant due to depletion over hundreds of years.

Still, this durable material is used in some cultures as jewelry, art such as sculptures and ornaments.

Due to Jades Jade’s magnetic nature, designers are advised not to use this stone anywhere near credit cards, pacemakers, or other magnet-sensitive items.

Jade is said to be a protective stone that protects its wearer from harm, especially during travel. Many keep a piece of jade in their car or luggage.

It is also though to attract good luck and have calming and soothing properties.

What Does Magnetic Mean?

The term “magnetic” informally refers to any gem that shows visible attraction to a magnet.

This is because magnetism is what designates the forces that attract certain materials to one another or rejects them.

Generally speaking, magnetism is one aspect of the combined electromagnetic force.

Within the gemstone world, magnetic susceptibility is the scientific term for the degree to which a gem is attracted to or repelled by a magnetic field.

Magnetism arises from the spin and orbital motion of electrons or electric charges.

Every thing, (alive, dead, specimen) is composed up of tiny units called atoms.

Each atom has electrons, which are particles that carry electric charge.

Spinning like tops, the electrons circle the nucleus, or core, of an atom.

Their movement generates an electric current and causes each electron to act as a microscopic magnet.

In most matter, equal numbers of electrons spin in opposite directions, which cancels out their magnetism.

Although, some gems have electrons that are not paired with other electrons, the unpaired electrons are then free to align themselves with a magnetic field, the result is magnetic attraction.

The gems that don’t show magnetic attraction don’t have many unpaired electrons and are considered inert.

Why Is Jade Magnetic?

People are generally surprised to learn that gemstones as a whole can be magnetic.

This is because most gems show no direct response to common magnets that we keep around the house such as a refrigerator magnet because these magnets are too weak.

For the gemstones that are magnetic, there degree of attraction can be noted as weak, moderate, or strong.

These minerals can range in magnetic strength from being capable of lifting steel rods to barely turning the needle on a compass.

The magnetism that we most often encounter in gemstones is a certain kind of magnetism called Paramagnetic.

This type of magnetism is due to the presence of dissolved metals within the gems.

Paramagnetism’s attraction can a million times weaker than Ferromagnetism, which is the kind of magnetism associated with iron, such as a paper clip.

Once a specimen is established as magnetic, identification of the specimen becomes a rather routine exercise.

There are a few methods to help find out if a gem is magnetic or inert, such as the floatation method, an N52 magnet and a UV flashlight.

Using a powerful neodymium magnet in combination with a near-frictionless testing method provides a means to detect even very slight magnetism in gemstones.

Gems can be separated from one type of gem to another, and sometimes identified, simply by observing which response a gem shows when the magnetic field of an N52 grade neodymium magnet is applied.

Although far less magnetic than many other metals and materials, as far as gemstones is concerned, Jade is one of the most magnetic.

In certain materials such as iron, cobalt, nickel, or iron oxide, magnetism is naturally present, and it works without any exterior help.

In other materials, the magnetizer effect is not so apparent, but it exists.

Stones such as the green jade, nephrite, or jadeite, naturally possess it, and it is a fairly strong magnetism.

This has been scientifically proven since 1953 by renowned British gemologist Basil Anderson.

However, magnetism remains an unexplored and neglected frontier in gemology.

More research and testing methods are still being developed to further a more in-depth comprehension of the subject matter.