Compact olive-green nephrite with the characteristic fibrous structure of the rock and surfaces that clearly show its internal texture. The specimen was sawn, but not professionally polished, in order to reveal the appearance and color of the interior of the rock.
Nephrite from Platti da Cancian (historically Piatte di Canciano) is one of the classic European localities for this variety and is particularly interesting for both its quality and the geological setting in which it formed. In addition, this specimen has added historical interest, as it was collected in the early twentieth century, as is the case with the great majority of the specimens that formed part of the Otto Gruson collection.
Platti da Cancian is located in the eastern Alps, within the Alpine massif of Graubünden, a region dominated by metamorphic rocks formed during the Alpine orogeny. The area is known for the presence of metamorphosed ultramafic bodies in which nephrite developed, a rock composed mainly of tremolite-actinolite and constituting one of the two mineral forms of jade. Nephrite occurs as compact olive-green masses formed by metasomatic and metamorphic processes.
Platti da Cancian (Piatte di Canciano), Poschiavo, Bernina Region, Grischun (Grisons; Graubünden) Switzerland
Specimen size: 7.4 × 5.1 × 4.6 cm = 2.91” × 2.01” × 1.81”
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