Jadeite is a
pyroxene mineral with composition
NaAlSi2O6. It is
monoclinic. It has a
Mohs hardness of about 6.5 to 7.0 depending on the composition. The mineral is dense, with a specific gravity of about 3.4. Jadeite forms solid solutions with other pyroxene
endmembers such as
augite and
diopside (CaMg-rich endmembers),
aegirine (NaFe endmember), and
kosmochlor (NaCr endmember). Pyroxenes rich in both the jadeite and augite endmembers are known as
omphacite.