Lantian jade was named after it was produced in Lantian County, Shaanxi Province. Its main mineral components are calcite and sphalerite. According to the degree of serpentine from low to high, calcite content gradually decreases, and some of it can become serpentine jade. In addition, it also contains a small amount of dolomite, chlorite, tremolite, mica, talc and other minerals, so lantian jade is also known as serpentine marble in mineralogy.
Serpentine and marble are abundant in nature, and their value is not high, so even if they grow together, the huge output will not improve the value of lantian jade. In addition, lantian jade's Mohs hardness is slightly lower, 2-6 degrees, so the durability is not high, it is easy to be scratched, and the natural price is not high.
Brief introduction of lantian jade
Lantian jade, one of the four famous jade species in China, commonly known as lantian jade species, is one of the earliest jade species developed and utilized in China. As early as 10,000 years ago in the Stone Age, our ancestors had already developed and utilized lantian jade. Lantian jade carving became popular among nobles and upper class in the Spring and Autumn Period, Qin and Han Dynasties, and reached its peak in the Tang Dynasty.
Lantian jade is named after being produced in Lantian Mountain, Xi City, Shaanxi Province. There are records of beautiful jade produced in Lantian in ancient books. Geography of Hanshu contains: Lantian, beautiful jade comes from the mountain, there is Hulao Mountain Temple, and Qin Xiaogong is also here. Later, there were records of Lantian's jade production in ancient books such as Biography of consorts in the Later Han Dynasty, Xijing Fu, Guangya, Notes on Water Mirrors and Yuanhe County Records.