Jade Mine

Heading to the Tucson Gem Shows for Nephrite Jade

Watch out for "fakes" that are flooding the market this year!

There is a massive surge in dyed quartzite being sold as high-quality Canadian or Siberian Nephrite Jade. To the untrained eye, they can look remarkably similar, but they aren't the real deal.

Check out the photos below to see the red flags you should be looking for.

Not sure about a piece you already bought? Come see us! We’d love to help you identify your stones and show you genuine samples so you can see the difference in person.

📍 Where to find us Jade West Corp

* GJX 114/115

* 22nd Street Showcase (Tent M5 – Jade West Corp)

In the third photo, there are only 2 natural strands.

There is also a lot of low grade serpentine being sold as Canadian Jade, when I went to GIA they said yellow green think serpentine

Where hard work meets natural beauty. Proudly mining Canadian Nephrite Jade for over 50 years

Jade Miners and Brothers-in-laws Matt Strauts and Paul Lanyon — Northern BC wilderness all around them.
Photo by Natalie Makepeace.

Found in the rugged mountains of Northern British Columbia lies the Ogden Mountain Mine — home to some of the world’s finest nephrite jade. This massive 14-ton jade boulder, unearthed from the Ogden deposit back in 2012

From mine to masterwork, every step of the process is done with care and difficulty.

What begins as a boulder in the mountains becomes a timeless expression of nature’s artistry.

A look back in jade history 💚
In September 1987, National Geographic featured my Dad jade miner Kirk Makepeace in an article by Fred Ward — a true testament to his lifelong passion for Canada’s rare and beautiful nephrite jade.

Nearly four decades later, Kirk’s dedication continues to shape the Canadian jade industry, from the mountains of British Columbia to collectors around the world.

📸 National Geographic, September 1987 — “Jade, Stone of Heaven” by Fred Ward

The jade were admiring this week - rich greens from northern British Columbia

After years of waiting, we were able to bring out a small amount of new Canadian jade. 🌿
Our mining season was short, but we were lucky enough to uncover this beauty while we could. Genuine, rare, and as unique as the land it comes from.

✨Don’t forget to register for the International Jade Summit, happening June 14, 2025 in beautiful Monterey, California—at the Monterey Bay Jade Festival at Custom House Plaza. . This all-day event is designed for gemologists, appraisers, jewelry professionals, jade carvers, collectors, and enthusiasts alike. Learn directly from some of the most respected names in the jade industry. . 🎤 Featured speakers include: ✅ Kirk Makepeace — Canadian jade miner and owner of Jade West Mining ✅ Mary Lou Ridinger — Co-discoverer (with Jay Ridinger) of Guatemalan jadeite jade deposits and Owner of Jade Maya ✅ Jeff Mason — Leading expert in the USA on jade testing and valuation, owner of Mason-Kay jade ✅ Lou Blanck — Geologist/Geophysicist and an expert on nephrite jade geology and formation . Your ticket includes breakfast and lunch, and plenty of time for networking, and enjoying the Georg Schmerholz Jade Carving Exhibition and the Monterey Bay Jade Festival. . ✨ LINK IN BIO 🔗 . 📅 Save the Date: June 14th, 2025 📍 Location: Custom House Plaza, Monterey, CA

Natalie Makepeace captured this breathtaking low rainbow in 2020. It hovered like a painted veil across the Cassiar Mountains in northern BC—an unforgettable moment in jade country.

The sky offered its rare gem in a place where ancient green stone lies just beneath the surface.

📍 Cassiar Mountains, British Columbia
📸: Natalie Makepeace | 2020

Our most Wicked piece of Wyoming Jade. The “WICKED WITCH FROM WYOMING”
From Talpey collection of Wyoming slabs. Anyone else see her? Will be on display in Tucson.