There are 2 different minerals referred to as jade, Nephrite Jade and Jadeite both of which traded under the Jade banner and date back to prehistoric times where it was used for both tools and decorative objects. Nephrite Jade is the softer of the 2 and comes in shades of dark green, it can be found in China, Canada and the USA. Nephrite is made up from a Calcium Magnesium Iron Silicate, the higher the iron content the darker the shade of green, where as Nephrite with a higher magnesium content results in a more milkier appearance. Jadeite also known as Chinese Jade is the more expensive of the two and can be found in a wide range of colours such as green, brown, yellow, pink, lilac, black, blue and white. The gemstone can also be translucent or opaque and is often cloudy or milky in appearance with mottled black or dark green patches.