Post #257206 by Benzart on Wed, Sep 27, 2006 5:49 AM

PDrake, this guy is looking Really good, like he's coming to life. The moai inside is trying very hard to get out and you Almost have him freed. However you are doing it, continue on because it looks like you are Doing it right.
Here is some info I found about Jade:

Information about Jade from http://www.jadecarver.com

"There are two minerals legitimately called Jade: Nephrite and Jadeite

Nephrite was used in Ancient Chinese carvings through the 1780s.

In the 1780s a "new jade" was introduced into China from Burma.

This new jade was jadeite. Brilliant green jadeite is called Imperial Jade.

Nephrite Jade Properties:

Spot Refractive Index: 1.61 to 1.62

Specific Gravity: 2.95

Hardness: 6 to 6.5

Structure: Interwoven Fibrous

Chemical Composition: Ca2(MgFe)5(OH)2(Si4O11)2

Jadeite Jade Properties:

Spot Refractive Index: 1.66

Specific Gravity: 3.34

Hardness: 6.5 to 7

Structure: Interlocking Granular

Chemical Composition: NaAl(SiO3)2

Jade is found in many parts of the world:

In the United States jade is found in Alaska, California, Washington State, Oregon, North Carolina, and Wyoming.
Jade Terminology:

BC Jade: Jade mined from British Columbia.

Polar Jade: Jade mined from the Polar Mine in Canada.

Chrome Jade: Jade with brilliant green specks.

Chatoyant Jade: Jade that has a tiger eye effect in the stone.

Botryoidal Jade: Also known as bubble jade. Jade shaped like clumps of grapes.

Siberian Jade: Jade from Siberia.

Wyoming Jade: Jade from Wyoming.

Vulcan Jade: Jade from California with a golden brown skin.

There are many other terms that are used in describing jade.
Sculpting Jade:

Jade is harder than steel. Therefore jade is not carved, it is ground and polished. Jade is ground wet because it gives off an asbestos like fiber dust when worked that can be harmful to the lungs.

Jade is primarily worked with either diamond or silicone carbide tools, papers and abrasives. Jade is worked with successive finer grades of abrasives. Some of the grits available are 36, 80, 100, 120, 220, 400, 600, 1200.

After the 600 or 1200 grit the jade is ready to polish. Polishing can be achieved using very fine grades of diamond pastes on media like felt or with chrome oxide mixtures or other compounds on leather. Polishing techniques and compounds are closely guarded secrets by many jade sculptors.

Some jades polish with an orange peel look. These jades require a lot of work and "know how" in the final polishing process. The better jades, like Siberian jades, usually take an excellent polish even for novice sculptors. Since jade is very time consuming to sculpt and polish we recommend that you always start with a quality piece of jade rough."

Seems I heard someone looking for info about "Imperial" Jade recently, there you have it!