These turtle jade earrings are made of sterling silver and jade found in the Yukon. Jade was originally used by the Native peoples of Alaska for implements and adornment. It was officially designated the State Gemstone of Alaska in 1968. Most jade found in Alaska and Western Canada varies in color from pale to dark green, only about 5% of the jade mined is high quality enough for carvings and jewelry. Our jade is called “nephrite”, it is fibrous and tough, with a hardness of 5-6, specific gravity of 3.0-3.3.  It is hydrous silicate of calcium and magnesium with varying amounts of iron which gives it its green color. Most of the jade used in our carvings and jewelry is currently mined in the Ogden Mountain region in the northern part of British Columbia.