Nephrite Jade and Related Rocks from Western Washington State, USA: A Geologic Overview
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The geologic framework of western Washington, USA, is the result of collisional tectonics, where oceanic plate materials were subducted beneath the continental margin. As part of this process, fragments of mantle peridotites were transported into the upper crust along deep faults. The hydration of these ultramafic materials produced bodies of serpentinite. Subsequent regional metamorphism caused metasomatism of the serpentinite to produce a variety of minerals, which include nephrite jade, grossular, chlorite, diopside, vesuvianite, and pumpellyite. Many of the nephrite-bearing rocks are located along the Darrington–Devils Mountain Fault Zone in Skagit and Snohomish Counties. Intense prospecting has led to the establishment of many mining claims, but recreational collecting remains a popular activity.
Source: Minerals
DOI: 10.3390/min14121186
Author: George E. Mustoe
Institution: Western Washington University
Language: English
Subfield: Geochemistry and Petrology
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,728
OpenAlex ID: W4404586038