![WHAT CAUSES THESE COLORS? 1]()
In a nutshell, the color and translucence of jade are the result of the chemical impurities present in the rough and the rate at which the jade cooled eons ago during the formation process. For example, green is the result of chromic oxide impurities; lavender comes about from the presence of manganese; red jade occurs as the end product of oxidation from surrounding water or earth; black jade denotes high iron content; white jade is "pure" jade. Of course, jade contains many other impurities that modify and shade these colors (quartz, mica, serpentine, etc.).
