Nephrite is a variety of the calcium and magnesium-rich
amphibole mineral
actinolite (aggregates of which also make up one form of
asbestos). The chemical formula for nephrite is
Ca2(
Mg,
Fe)
5Si8O22(O
H)
2. It is one of two different mineral species called
jade. The other mineral species known as jade is
jadeite, which is a variety of
pyroxene. While nephrite jade possess mainly grays and greens (and occasionally yellows, browns or whites), jadeite jade, which is rarer, can also contain blacks, reds, pinks and violets. Nephrite jade is an ornamental stone, used in
carvings,
beads, or
cabochon cut gemstones.