DISCOVERY AND INITIAL STUDY ON ILLITE JADE IN HUBEI PROVINCE

Illite jade, in vein, was discovered in some copper mine, located in Daye County, Hubei Province, and is a rind hydrothermal alteration rock from anorthosite. The jade consists of illite and a little amount of diopside and chlorite, and it is light gray-green, with local deep red owing to hematitation, surface smooth, greasy luster, the degree of luster 72%, relative density 2.79, Mohs' hardness 3.32.