Jade

Jade is a metamorphic rock that is usually green, white, or lavender in color. It is made up of the minerals jadeite or nephrite and is used for a variety of purposes, including making jewelry, sculptures, and other ornamental objects.

Jadeite is the harder of the two types of jade and is usually a brighter green than nephrite. It is found in a number of locations, including Myanmar, where it is the most common type of jade. Jadeite is used in a variety of ways, including for making jewelry and other ornamental objects.

Nephrite is a softer type of jade and is usually white or lavender in color. It is found in a number of locations, including Myanmar, where it is less common than jadeite. Nephrite is used in a variety of ways, including for making jewelry and other ornamental objects.

Jade is found in Myanmar in a variety of locations. The most significant deposits are in the west, in the Kachin State, near the border with China. In the past, Myanmar's jade mines were mostly located in the north, in the area around Mandalay. However, since the early 2000s, the majority of jade mining in Myanmar has taken place in the Kachin State, in an area known as the Jade Tract.

The Jade Tract is a large area of land that includes parts of the Kachin State and the Sagaing Region. It is thought to contain the world's largest deposits of jadeite, a type of jade that is highly prized for its quality and transparency. Jadeite is found in a number of different colors, but the most valuable is a bright green variety known as "imperial jade."

Most of Myanmar's jade is mined by hand, using simple tools such as hammers and chisels. This is a labor-intensive and dangerous process, as the jade is often found in steep, mountainous terrain. In recent years, there have been a number of fatal accidents at jade mines in Myanmar, as well as reports of forced labor and child labor.

The vast majority of Myanmar's jade is exported to China, where it is used to make a variety of products, including jewelry, sculptures, and figurines. In China, jade is seen as a status symbol and a symbol of good luck, and it is often given as a gift.

Myanmar is thought to have the largest reserves of jadeite in the world, and the mining of jade in Myanmar is big business. It is estimated that the value of Myanmar's jade exports totaled $31 billion in 2014, making it one of the country's most important sources of income.

However, the vast majority of Myanmar's population does not benefit from the country's jade trade. The vast majority of jade miners are poor, and the conditions in the mines are often dangerous and unhealthy. In addition, the environmental impact of jade mining is significant, as the process of extracting jade often involves blasting away large sections of mountainside.

The jade trade has also been linked to human rights abuses. In 2015, a report by the environmental organization Global Witness revealed that jade mines in Myanmar are controlled by paramilitary groups and the military, which are accused of using forced labor, rape, and murder to control the jade trade.

Myanmar's jade trade is a complex and controversial issue. While the trade has been a source of income for the country, it has also been linked to human rights abuses and environmental destruction.