Asking what the difference is between greenstone and jade is a particularly important question here in New Zealand.  Jade is actually an international term that encompasses two types of jade: nephrite jade, and jadeite.  Nephrite jade is the type of jade found in New Zealand, but to complicate matters further, we call our native nephrite jade greenstone or  pounamu.  Nephrite jade is also found in Canada, so in mineral terms it is the same as New Zealand greenstone, but it is often a darker green with less translucency, due to the different geological and climatic conditions.

Jadeite is what you mostly see coming out of China.  Chinese jade is usually highly polished and varies in colour from white, lavender, yellow, orange, to emerald green and even black.  So it looks a lot different to nephrite jade.

So when someone in New Zealand says their necklace is greenstone, technically it will be nephrite jade, and most likely it will be either New Zealand greenstone (pounamu) or Canadian greenstone.  New Zealand greenstone is culturally protected, and spiritually significant.  The stone can only be removed from the ground by Ngai Tahu, and spiritually it carries mana (spiritual power).

Asking what the difference is between greenstone and jade is a particularly important question here in New Zealand.  Jade is actually an international term that encompasses two types of jade: nephrite jade, and jadeite.  Nephrite jade is the type of jade found in New Zealand, but to complicate matters further, we call our native nephrite jade greenstone or  pounamu.  Nephrite jade is also found in Canada, so in mineral terms it is the same as New Zealand greenstone, but it is often a darker green with less translucency, due to the different geological and climatic conditions.

Jadeite is what you mostly see coming out of China.  Chinese jade is usually highly polished and varies in colour from white, lavender, yellow, orange, to emerald green and even black.  So it looks a lot different to nephrite jade.

So when someone in New Zealand says their necklace is greenstone, technically it will be nephrite jade, and most likely it will be either New Zealand greenstone (pounamu) or Canadian greenstone.  New Zealand greenstone is culturally protected, and spiritually significant.  The stone can only be removed from the ground by Ngai Tahu, and spiritually it carries mana (spiritual power).