nephrite
noun/ˈnɛfˌɹaɪt/
Etymology From Latin lapis nephriticus, via Ancient Greek λίθος (líthos) νεφριτικός (nephritikós), meaning kidney stone, because jade was believed to have cured kidney stones.
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Chemistry, Geography, Geology, Mineralogy, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A semi-precious stone, one of the two types of stone commonly referred to as jade (the other being jadeite).
- Occurrences of nephrite are more numerous. China’s most important source throughout its history has been the region of Khotan (Ho-t‘ien) and Yarkand in Central Asia. In more recent times the Chinese have also imported nephrite from the neighbourhood of Lake Baikal in Eastern Siberia.1968, S. Howard Hansford, “The Material and Its Sources”, in Chinese Carved Jades, Greenwich, Conn.: New York Graphic Society Ltd., →LCCN, →OCLC, page 27: