I believe that Dave’s ion transfer idea is correct, and that it meshes perfectly with the formation of nephrite in contact zones between two distinct masses of stone, each of which contibutes part of the ingredients of nephrite jade. Some Wyoming jade was formed in contact with quartz crystals which form a crust on the jade cobble, often penetrating into the jade, with evidence of complete conversion into pseudomorphs. These can be difficult to recognize unless they are in cross-section and show the hexagonal habit of their quartz “ancestors.”

Sometimes on wind-worn stones the quartz crystal have been completely worn away. Although quartz is lightly harder than nephrite, this is a perfect demontration of the incredible toughness of high quality nephrite. The quartz blows away in the Wyoming wind and the jade remains. This can result in beautifully sculpted stones which are the equivalent of Chinese lingbi scholars’ rocks.

As a carver I am always glad to see quartz crystals on the outside of a piece of Wyoming jade. Unless the crystals extend so far into the jade that little or no usable material can be recovered, the jade inside is some of the finest and hardest nephrite on the planet. Not only is the jade very fine, but the pseumorphs themselves are better jade than the surrounding jade. This is evidenced in the black and green Wyoming “frogskin” jade where the green pseudomorph spots are harder than the surrounding black jade. On a wind eroded surface of this material the green spots are raised bumps mimicing botryoidal bumps.

My first experience carving Wyoming nephrite was in 1977, with more intensive work investigation for the past sixteen years, so I’m just a beginner with this incredibly variable, complex, and rewarding material.