Green Mountain Jade is shining the spotlight on Canadian-produced jade

British Columbia is the largest producer and exporter of nephrite jade in the world. — Photo courtesy Green Mountain Jade

As the jade mining season is set to begin later this spring, Green Mountain Jade Inc. (GMJ) plans on increasing its production by up to 50 per cent to keep up with increasing demand. It plans on doing this by beginning the season early in May as opposed to June with the help of favourable early season weather. Last season GMJ produced 400 tonnes of nephrite jade, 90 per cent of which was exported to China to whom it is known as the stone of heaven. Nephrite jade is the official native stone of China, and British Columbia is the largest producer and exporter of nephrite jade in the world, which leaves GMJ in a good position for the foreseeable future.

“Canada has the smallest scale of mining, but still it offers half of the world’s supply . . . Canada has around 70 per cent of the world’s nephrite deposits right here in B.C.,” said GMJ president Shao Long Li. The price of jade steadily increases every season depending on the grade, and jade mining brings in approximately US$20 to 30 million into the B.C. economy every year just from the raw material alone, which is only three to five per cent of the whole market.

Green Mountain Jade president Shao Long Li — Photo courtesy Green Mountain Jade

GMJ hasn’t been in the mining industry long, however, only beginning operations in 2009 under current president Li who is also the visionary behind GMJ’s first retail location opening later this year in Richmond, B.C. A lot of GMJ’s success has to do with its partnership with the Jade West Group, which has been producing and exporting nephrite jade for over 40 years with Kirk Makepeace at the helm since the beginning. Makepeace started his jade mining career in 1976 and is currently the COO of GMJ as the two companies now operate as one.

In the first year of operations, GMJ only acquired one mine from the Jade West Group and has since expanded operations to include four active mines over its short existence. “The target of the first year wasn’t production, it was an introduction to this whole business and the whole season I was up there learning the process. It was a very interesting year,” said Li. “It was a very important year and we still managed to produce about 200 tonnes.”

Typically when the mining season is over in the fall, the jade is hauled from the mines to the Lower Mainland for auction with most of it selling over a weekend. This doesn’t leave a lot of jade available for purchase during the rest of the year, which is why GMJ decided to open a retail location. “Having product available every month and week is very important to the market. We have inquiries all the time, but over half of the time we have to say 'sorry, but you have to wait another couple months or close to a year until the next season,' which isn’t good for the buyers,” said Li.

Green Mountain Jade's first retail location opening later this year will be in Richmond, B.C. — Photo courtesy Green Mountain Jade

GMJ will be working with some of the smaller mining companies for its new retail location as well as clients who produce different jade products including carvings and jewelry. They will also be operating a jade trading centre for people who already have jade in their homes to buy and sell with other enthusiasts. “We won’t just have Canadian jade, but we’ll also have Siberian Russian jade, Chinese jade and Burmese jade,” said Li. “We expect to open the retail in July and the whole trading centre platform probably before the mining season ends in October.” The retail store will be located on River Road in Richmond and will be the first of its kind in the Lower Mainland.

Skillfully framed in precious wood, the jade screen stands tall as a proud work of art. — Photo courtesy Green Mountain Jade

Producing the jade is obviously first and foremost, but GMJ is also focused on continually building the market for jade. “We want to build a connection and get the story out . . . A lot of people don’t even know Canada produces as much jade as we do. There is really a disconnect between the supply here and the market in China. Before, all of the good Canadian jade was called Chinese or Russian jade, but we produce some of the nicest jade in the world, so we intend to change that,” said Li.

Quick facts about jade:

• The only pure forms of jade are nephrite and jadeite.
• Jadeite is an aluminum-rich pyroxene.
• Nephrite is a magnesium-rich amphibole.
• Nephrite is the official native stone of China.
• Nephrite is the toughest natural stone in the world.
• Most people recognize jade as being green in colour, but it can also be white, lavender, yellow, blue, black, red, orange and gray.

• The only pure forms of jade are nephrite and jadeite.
• Jadeite is an aluminum-rich pyroxene.
• Nephrite is a magnesium-rich amphibole.
• Nephrite is the official native stone of China.
• Nephrite is the toughest natural stone in the world.
• Most people recognize jade as being green in colour, but it can also be white, lavender, yellow, blue, black, red, orange and gray.