![scrapbook page with pictures of jade in many colors from pure white to green and orange to dark gray](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_wmjs_colorsandpatterns/4218990-4-eng-US/ii_wmjs_colorsandpatterns_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_wmjs_colorsandpatterns/4218990-4-eng-US/ii_wmjs_colorsandpatterns_full_990.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_wmjs_colorsandpatterns/4218990-4-eng-US/ii_wmjs_colorsandpatterns_full_1468.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_wmjs_colorsandpatterns/4218990-4-eng-US/ii_wmjs_colorsandpatterns_full_1980.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_wmjs_colorsandpatterns/4218990-4-eng-US/ii_wmjs_colorsandpatterns_full_2475.jpg 926w)
![ornate carved disk in pure white jade](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_chemicallypure/4200810-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_chemicallypure_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_chemicallypure/4200810-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_chemicallypure_full_990.jpg 882w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_chemicallypure/4200810-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_chemicallypure_full_1468.jpg 882w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_chemicallypure/4200810-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_chemicallypure_full_1980.jpg 882w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_chemicallypure/4200810-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_chemicallypure_full_2475.jpg 882w)
chemically pure
Jade is white or colorless when it's chemically pure.
![orange and white ornate jade carving](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_colorpatterns/4200844-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_colorpatterns_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_colorpatterns/4200844-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_colorpatterns_full_990.jpg 820w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_colorpatterns/4200844-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_colorpatterns_full_1468.jpg 820w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_colorpatterns/4200844-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_colorpatterns_full_1980.jpg 820w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_colorpatterns/4200844-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_colorpatterns_full_2475.jpg 820w)
color patterns
Artists pay close attention to jade's color patterns to carve the most interesting objects. What do you think this is a carving of?
![black jaguar carving stained with graphite, and jade bangle with lavender color because of manganese](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_graphiteandmanganese/4200831-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_graphiteandmanganese_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_graphiteandmanganese/4200831-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_graphiteandmanganese_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_graphiteandmanganese/4200831-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_graphiteandmanganese_full_1468.jpg 1426w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_graphiteandmanganese/4200831-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_graphiteandmanganese_full_1980.jpg 1426w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_graphiteandmanganese/4200831-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_graphiteandmanganese_full_2475.jpg 1426w)
stained with graphite and colored with manganese
These objects are really beautiful. Graphite, the black stuff in pencil lead, stained this jade tiger black. And a little manganese colored pure jade lavender.
![white jade carved pendant with emerald green areas colored by chromium](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_coloredwithchromium/4200827-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_coloredwithchromium_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_coloredwithchromium/4200827-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_coloredwithchromium_full_990.jpg 600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_coloredwithchromium/4200827-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_coloredwithchromium_full_1468.jpg 600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_coloredwithchromium/4200827-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_coloredwithchromium_full_1980.jpg 600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_coloredwithchromium/4200827-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_coloredwithchromium_full_2475.jpg 600w)
colored with chromium
Sometimes, jade is colored by minor chemical changes in its mineral composition. See this pendant? A little chromium can make jade emerald green!
![carving made of jade that was stained orange by rust](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_stainedwithrust/4200835-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_stainedwithrust_full_495.jpg 440w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_stainedwithrust/4200835-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_stainedwithrust_full_990.jpg 440w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_stainedwithrust/4200835-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_stainedwithrust_full_1468.jpg 440w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_stainedwithrust/4200835-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_stainedwithrust_full_1980.jpg 440w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_stainedwithrust/4200835-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_stainedwithrust_full_2475.jpg 440w)
stained with rust
Sometimes, jade can be stained naturally. This happens when another mineral gets between the grains and turn jade another color. Iron oxide stained this jade orange.
![lavender jade figurine and dark green jade pendants](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_treasuredcolors/4200814-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_treasuredcolors_full_495.jpg 305w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_treasuredcolors/4200814-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_treasuredcolors_full_990.jpg 305w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_treasuredcolors/4200814-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_treasuredcolors_full_1468.jpg 305w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_treasuredcolors/4200814-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_treasuredcolors_full_1980.jpg 305w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/colorsandpatterns_treasuredcolors/4200814-1-eng-US/colorsandpatterns_treasuredcolors_full_2475.jpg 305w)
treasured colors
The color of jade affects its value. Emerald green and lavender jade are really valuable in Asia. And a long time ago, blue-green jade was a treasured color in Mesoamerica.
Image Credits:
All photos: courtesy of AMNH