Bowenite
Bowenite is a hard, compact variety of the serpentinite species antigorite found in several places around thr world including Afghanistan, China, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. It typically ranges in color from a dark forest green to a light olive green with shades approaching yellow. Bowenite was named by James D. Dana in 1850 after George T. Bowen, who analyzed it in 1822.
In New Zealand, the Māori consider bowenite a form of pounamu along with nephrite jade. Historically it was used tools, weapons and ornaments, although modern use is limited to jewellery [1][2][3] It is the the state mineral of the US state of Rhode Island.
Most deposits are small, although a large deposit was discovered in South Africa in 1989. The largest known artifact made of bowenite is a carving approximately 35 cm in size, which resides in the National Museum of China. Deposits in China are in the Soochow region, which accounts for its also being known as Soochow jade. [citation needed]
Bowenite has been used as a substitute for nephrite jade, and in most cases, the only way to distinguish between the two gemstones is to test the specific gravity.
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