History · Geology
About Hetian (Khotan) Jade District
The Hetian (also Khotan) Jade District in Hetian Prefecture, Xinjiang, is the world’s most historically significant nephrite jade source. For over 6,000 years — predating dynastic China — the riverbeds and primary deposits along the Yurungkash (“White Jade River”) and Karakash (“Black Jade River”) have supplied the imperial Chinese jade market. “Mutton-fat” white nephrite from Hetian is the most prized variety. The district establishes Xinjiang as a published-locality entry in the encyclopedia.
Geology & Signature Specimens
The deposit consists of nephrite (a tremolite-actinolite serpentinite) emplaced along the Kunlun Mountain front, with primary deposits in metamorphosed dolomitic carbonates and secondary alluvial deposits in glacier-fed rivers. Yurungkash riverbed pebbles supply the gem-grade white “mutton-fat” jade, while primary mining at higher altitudes yields green, black, and yellow varieties. Annual production has been controlled by the Chinese government since 2007 to preserve the resource.
Minerals Produced Here
- Actinolite (阳起石)
- Tremolite (透闪石)
