![scrapbook page with pictures of jade as prepared for analysis, jade under a microscope, and example of Scanning Electron Microscope](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_hjf_toolsinthelab/4218978-5-eng-US/ii_hjf_toolsinthelab_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_hjf_toolsinthelab/4218978-5-eng-US/ii_hjf_toolsinthelab_full_990.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_hjf_toolsinthelab/4218978-5-eng-US/ii_hjf_toolsinthelab_full_1468.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_hjf_toolsinthelab/4218978-5-eng-US/ii_hjf_toolsinthelab_full_1980.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_hjf_toolsinthelab/4218978-5-eng-US/ii_hjf_toolsinthelab_full_2475.jpg 926w)
![raw piece of jade](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_rawjade/4200968-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_rawjade_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_rawjade/4200968-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_rawjade_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_rawjade/4200968-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_rawjade_full_1468.jpg 1468w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_rawjade/4200968-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_rawjade_full_1980.jpg 1600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_rawjade/4200968-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_rawjade_full_2475.jpg 1600w)
raw jade
When I look at a piece of jade, it's easy to tell its color, texture, and transparency. But figuring out its mineral makeup is another story!
![chunk of jade next to an extremely thin slice of same chunk on a slide](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_preparingjade/4200976-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_preparingjade_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_preparingjade/4200976-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_preparingjade_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_preparingjade/4200976-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_preparingjade_full_1468.jpg 1468w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_preparingjade/4200976-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_preparingjade_full_1980.jpg 1871w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_preparingjade/4200976-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_preparingjade_full_2475.jpg 1871w)
preparing jade for analysis
I first cut off a small piece of jade and glue it to a glass slide. Then I cut off most of the jade and polish it until it's very thin.
![Scanning Electron Microscope](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_scanningelectronmicroscope/4200972-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_scanningelectronmicroscope_full_495.jpg 190w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_scanningelectronmicroscope/4200972-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_scanningelectronmicroscope_full_990.jpg 190w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_scanningelectronmicroscope/4200972-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_scanningelectronmicroscope_full_1468.jpg 190w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_scanningelectronmicroscope/4200972-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_scanningelectronmicroscope_full_1980.jpg 190w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_scanningelectronmicroscope/4200972-1-eng-US/toolsinthelab_scanningelectronmicroscope_full_2475.jpg 190w)
scanning electron microscope
Today we have tools to get a closer look at jade and all its chemical elements. This helps me understand how jade formed. I may even be able to figure out where it was formed.
![left side shows b/w image of jade under an electron microscope. right side shows colorful mineral grains under an optical microscope.](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_gettingacloserlook/4200980-2-eng-US/toolsinthelab_gettingacloserlook_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_gettingacloserlook/4200980-2-eng-US/toolsinthelab_gettingacloserlook_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_gettingacloserlook/4200980-2-eng-US/toolsinthelab_gettingacloserlook_full_1468.jpg 1468w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_gettingacloserlook/4200980-2-eng-US/toolsinthelab_gettingacloserlook_full_1980.jpg 1800w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/hjf-how-jade-forms/toolsinthelab_gettingacloserlook/4200980-2-eng-US/toolsinthelab_gettingacloserlook_full_2475.jpg 1800w)
getting a closer look
The black and white image is what jade looks like viewed by a scanning electron microscope. The color photo is an optical microscope image of a similar piece of jade. See those tiny mineral grains? They can tell me which area in Guatemala the jade formed. How amazing is that?
Image Credits:
SEM: courtesy of AMNH; all other photos: courtesy of George Harlow