Dushan jade is a type of dioritic diorite, with a portion undergoing mylonitization to form plagioclase diorite. The variety of altered minerals in Dushan jade is quite extensive, including primarily diopside, actinolite, tremolite, albite, hornblende, biotite, muscovite, chlorite, calcite, and epidote. Dushan jade is categorized into five series and over thirty varieties based on its color: white, green, purple, yellow, and miscellaneous. The specific varieties are as follows:
White Dushan Jade—divided into watery white jade, dry white jade, creamy white jade, dark white jade, and pod jade, among others. Predominantly milky white, some with hints of gray or pinkish hues, exhibiting fine texture, hardness, and compactness, with a glassy luster and slight translucency. The jade consists of plagioclase diorite undergoing diopside mylonitization.
Green Dushan Jade—comprising green jade, green-white jade, emerald jade, cyan jade, sky-blue jade, and others. Predominantly green and emerald hues, resembling jadeite, with fine texture, hardness, and compactness, displaying a glassy luster ranging from semi-translucent to translucent. The jade consists of muscovite-altered plagioclase diorite.
Purple Dushan Jade—encompassing purple jade, bright brown jade, and others. Exhibiting dark green tones with faint purple spots scattered across a shrimplike texture, showcasing fine texture, hardness, and compactness with a glassy luster and opacity. The jade comprises plagioclase diorite.
Yellow Dushan Jade—including yellow pod jade and others. Presenting a uniform yellow-green or olive-green-yellow coloration, with fine texture, hardness, and compactness.
