A petrography of 'Jade-axes' from the eastern and southern Netherlands

Abstract

Nine stone axes, examined macroscopically, and by a comparative specific gravity investigation, proved to be made of rocks composed essentially of jadeite. Two X-ray powder diffraction exposures affirmed the results. Since the first petrographical studies of European jadeite implements at the end of last century, the attempts to determine the sources have been without much success. A collection of references of the European jadeites might facilitate the search for the unknown source areas.