The total number of jade deposits in the world does not exceed fifty. Most often, this ornamental mineral forms small exits from the earth's crust, which in appearance resemble other rocks. The rarity of jade is explained by the features of its formation. In Russia, the most promising are the deposits of Buryatia and Transbaikalia. This mineral is very much appreciated in Asian countries, especially in China, where its prices reach several thousand dollars per kilogram.
Jade nature
Jade is a mineral of hydrothermal metasomatic origin. Such rocks occur in the earth's crust at a shallow depth, and their formation occurs under the influence of high pressure and hot mineralized aqueous solutions that circulate under the surface of the Earth. The most common color is green, but there are others - white, gray, brown, black, yellowish, reddish and blue (the rarest).
In nature, this mineral is quite rare, indigenous deposits and boulder placers are of industrial interest. From ancient times, man has developed a special relationship with this stone. It was mined in the Neolithic era, and in China it is considered sacred to this day. Information about jade deposits was kept secret. Over time, many of them were forgotten. Therefore, in the XX century. geologists had to rediscover them.
In this regard, many may wonder whether the jade is mined in Russia. Officially, mineral deposits were discovered in 1824 on the East Sayan and only after 27 years the first batch of them totaling about 2 tons was mined there. After another 11 years, products from domestic jade were exhibited at the world exhibition in London.
The microstructure of the mineral has a tangled-fibrous character, it is very difficult to split. Therefore, in the past, people mainly collected it in mountain rivers, after the snow cover disappeared. Jade was then perceived as a gift of nature, obtained in inaccessible places.
Industrial types
Jade deposits in Russia are confined to alpinotype hyperbasites (parts of the mantle embedded in the earth's crust) and dolomite marbles, or rather, to the contact of two rocks of a contrast composition. Chemically nonequilibrium rocks exchange elements between each other, which leads to recrystallization. There is a hypothesis that this mineral is formed when serpentinite moves along tectonic faults. This is also confirmed by the fact that relic serpentinite is found in jade.
Two main industrial types of the mineral are distinguished: aposerpentinite (formed at the border with serpentinite and aluminosilicate rocks) and apocarbonate (at the contact of dolomite marbles with granitized aluminosilicate rocks).
The last type of jade is characterized by light tones of color (from salad to pure white). They are much less common. About where white jade is mined in Russia, is described below. Demand for them on the gem market in recent decades has been constantly growing and significantly exceeds supply, which explains the high price of the mineral (up to $ 10,000 per 1 kg). The color of the stone depends on the inclusions of iron and chromium. A large amount of iron gives it a dark color, and chromium - emerald green.
Application
In the Neolithic era, jade was used to make knives, axes, arrowheads and spears, various amulets, figurines and jewelry were cut from it. This stone served as a distinguishing mark of a high position.
Jade stone-cutting and jewelry business reached its peak in China in the 17-18 centuries. Bowls, chess, animal figures, balls, attributes of imperial power were ground from it. At that time, the mineral was valued above gold, and plaques made from it were used instead of money.
In Russia, jade is mined for use in jewelry (the manufacture of inserts in silver and gold products, cabochons, beads, balls and figurines), as well as for export. A distinctive feature of the mineral is its increased strength, superior to that of steel. At the same time, jade has a relatively low hardness (5.5-6 units on the Mohs scale), which makes it easy to cut and polish it. The "viscosity" of the stone makes it possible to produce very complex carvings with many curved surfaces.
Jade is practically the only material from which durable jewelry rings can be made. Other stones break quickly when worn, as they poorly resist stretching. In the time of tsarist Russia, stone-cutting factories also made caskets, cigarette cases, toiletries, plates and other items from it. But most of all, this stone is revered in China, where jade products are passed down from generation to generation as a family heirloom, collect huge collections, create works of art and even dedicate festivals to this mineral.
Discovery of deposits
The first deposits of jade in Russia were located on the Onot River. It flows through the territory of Buryatia and the Irkutsk region and is one of the largest rivers of the East Sayan Mountains. At the end of the XIX century. mining engineer Yachevsky found the first radical core on the Khara-Zhalga stream, and in the 30s. XX century Soviet geologist Shestopalov discovered jade veins on the Ilchir and Khusha-Gol rivers. All these rivers are in the Okinsky district of Buryatia. These hard-to-reach mountain and gorgeous places are still poorly populated.
There are two main deposits, where in Russia, jade production has reached a large industrial scale: Ospinskaya (Ilchir river basin) and Ulan-Khodinskaya. In the Baikal-Sayan province there are a number of mineral deposits located on a relatively small area:
- Gorlykgolskoye (r. Khusha-Gol) is the largest, but the quality of jade is low.
- Arakhushanzhalginsky - loose large-boulder.
- Bortogolskoe.
- Zunospinsky (fully developed at the moment).
- Khamarhuda - jade smoky gray with a yellowish or greenish tint.
- Khargantinsky.
- Khangarul.
- Khokhurt (R. Khokhurt).
- Boldoktinskoye (Boldokto River) - placer deposit, and others.
Modern large deposits
Currently, 98% of jade reserves are located in three areas:
- East Sayansk (Ulanhodinskoye, Zunospinskoye, Ospinskoye, Gorlykgolskoye, Arakhushanzhalginskoye deposits).
- Dzhidinsky (along the rivers Boldokto, Khokhurt, Ukhabyr).
- Vitimsky (Buromskoye, Golyubinskoye deposits).
In total, about eighty jade veins and dozens of its placers were found in the eastern Sayan mountains and in Transbaikalia.
Ospinsky and Ulankhodinsky deposits
The best veins of jade stone in Russia were discovered at the Ospinsky deposit. Minerals of this origin are characterized by a bright apple-green color, as well as the effect of “cat's eye”. The field consists of two sections - Ilchirsky and Ospinsky, located at a distance of 1 km from each other. 9 jade veins were revealed here. The sixth of them, with high-quality jade (large pieces up to 1 m 3 without cracks and inclusions) was developed until 2011.
Ulanhodinskoye field. At present, it can be considered only in the historical aspect, since it is fully developed, like the Zunospinsky. The quality of jade is lower than that of the Ospinsky deposit. Development was carried out on the northern slope of Ulan-Khoda Mountain and in the upper reaches of the Khara-Zhelga River.
Udokan field
The Udokan deposit is located in the Trans-Baikal Territory, on the Tsipa River (left tributary of the Vitim) in the north of Buryatia (Bauntovsky district). To a greater extent it is also worked out. A feature of jade production in Russia at this deposit is that it contains minerals of olive-yellow color, which, in their decorative properties, are close to “golden” (or “honey”) jade, which is very rare and appreciated more than white.
The deposits are dominated by light green minerals, and their main defect is fracture, which leads to the small size of the mined blocks. Here, in the Kalar River basin, boulders and pebbles of high-quality white jade were found. The cost of this stone, mined in the Bauntovsky Evenki district of Buryatia, reaches $ 5,000 per kilogram, which exceeds the price of gold. Other deposits of white jade are known only in China, Australia, and in Russia this stone was also found in the middle reaches of the Vitim River.
Jades of Altai
Altai jades were discovered in the 60s. XX century The size of the deposits is small and located in the following places:
- Charysh-Terektinsky deep fault (Terektinsky ridge) - from the village of Kaitanak to the river Coir (Akkem, Baltyrgan, Aryskan, Tomul, Muynokh manifestations, which are located mainly near streams);
- Kurai Fault;
- Shalapsky fault;
- Akkem River (village Chagan-Uzun), Cheremshanka.
Altai minerals of low quality: dirty green, fissured. According to some estimates, the total reserves of jade in Altai are about 200 tons.
Small deposits of jade in Russia
Small jade deposits are also found in the following regions:
- in the Republic of Tuva (Bilinskoye field);
- in the Southern Urals (Naraly mountains);
- in Bashkortostan (Uchalinsky district, Lower Iremel river);
- in the Chelyabinsk region (Mount Big Bikilar)
- in the Republic of Sakha (Selennyakh River);
- in the north of Kamchatka (Kuyulsky massif).
In these places, the mineral is also of poor quality, usually of a greenish-swamp color.
Mining methods
Deposits where jade is mined in Russia are developed by 2 methods:
- In an open way in quarries using heavy equipment (bulldozers, excavators). In Buryatia, about 90% of all jades get it. Raw materials are taken out along taiga roads, winter roads (roads that are operated only in winter) or by helicopters.
- The collection of pellets (boulders and pebbles) at the bottom of the rivers. This is the most dangerous method of mining, but this type of raw material is highly valued - its price is ten times higher than the price of a mineral mined in a quarry. These works require scuba gear, compressors and highly qualified divers.