The Americas | Jaded nation

Canada’s jade mines boomed on Chinese demand. Now that’s over

Local indigenous groups are happy that jade mines will no longer scar their lands

Promotional photo showing the Bunce family in the show Jade Fever.
The galled-jade wincePhotograph: Courtesy of Discovery/Crave
|Vancouver

In 2008 Jade West, a small Canadian mining company, was selling nephrite jade for $20 per kilo. Then the Chinese market woke up. The Chinese government ran a campaign to promote nephrite jade during the Beijing Olympics, sparking interest in the gemstone from Chinese consumers. The price surged to between $200 and $2,000 a kilo, depending on quality.

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This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “Jaded”

From the June 1st 2024 edition

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