American jade

A misleading local name for massive vesuvianite or a rock containing mostly vesuvianite. Except that the material resembles jade, there is no relationship mineralogically. Jade is a recognizable name and it is more financially attractive to sell the stone under this name.

The translucent apple-green material was discovered around 1900 during the construction of a railroad in the Feather River Canyon at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California in the United States. George Frederick Kunz of Tiffany & Co, a leading gemologist of the time who analyzed the material, was not a fan of the name vesuvianite and called it californite after the state where it was found. A name still used for solid vesuvianite even when found outside California.

It is also called California Jade, Pulga Jade or Feather River Jade, after the place Pulga in California’s Feather River Canyon where it is found.

Do you have a nice example of this stone and would like to provide a photo for the library (with attribution)? Or do you have material that can be photographed? If so, please contact me – all contributions are appreciated!