Characteristic, Development and Utilization of Nephrite from Luodian, Guizhou Province

The discovery of nephrite deposit in Luodian, Guizhou Province is a breakthrough in the history of nephrite exploration in southern China. Huge reserves of nephrite in Guizhou Province indicated by field survey can provide effective supplements for the increasing shortage of nephrite resources. The nephrite of Guizhou mainly layers in the contact zone between diabase intrusions and limestones bearing siliceous rocks and comes in a variety of colours like white, greenish white, green and brown. And quite a few nephrite from Guizhou Province contains dendrites composed of iron or manganese oxides. The main component of nephrite from Guizhou Province mainly consists of tremolite as nephrite from other deposits.Compared with value from the Chinese National Standard (GB/T 16553—2017), the relative density of some nephrite from Guizhou Province is lower, and shows porcellaneous luster, which is mainly attributed to large porosity within tremolite aggregates and high content of certain minor phases such as calcite or quartz.The nephrite from Guizhou Province has certain advantages in quality influence factors such as colour, texture and size, while it has deficiencies in luster and transparency. Unsatisfactory carving skills and serious product homogeneity are two important issues, which need to be solved in nephrite market in Guizhou Province. Making full use of porcellaneous luster for product development, highlighting origin characteristics for jade with dendrites and grey wall rocks, promoting from the view of nephrite pebble and the Hongshui Rive culture, and market positioning according to quality levels can be directions for further development and utilization of nephrite in Guizhou Province.