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
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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