Jade is an umbrella term for two different types of decorative rocks used for jewelry or ornaments. Jade is often referred to by either of two different silicate mineral names: nephrite, or jadeite. Nephrite is typically green, although may be yellow, white or black. Jadeite varies from white or near-colorless, through various shades of green, to lavender, yellow, orange, brown and black. Rarely it may be blue. Both of these names refer to their use as gemstones, and each has a mineralogically more specific name. Both the amphibole jade (nephrite) and pyroxene jade are mineral aggregates (rocks) rather than mineral species. Nephrite was deprecated by the International Mineralogical Association as a mineral species name in 1978. The name "nephrite" is mineralogically correct for referring to the rock. Jadeite, is a legitimate mineral species, differing from the pyroxene jade rock. In China, the name jadeite has been replaced with fei cui, the traditional Chinese name for this gem that was in use long before Damour created the name in 1863.

जेड या हरिताश्म एक शोभाप्रद पत्थर है। यह दो भिन्न तरह के सिलिकेट खनिजों से बना पत्थर होता है। नेफ्राइट जेड में कैल्शियम एवं मैग्नेशियम बहुल एम्फीबोल खनिज, एक्टीनोलाइट होता है। दूसरा जेडिटाइट में पूर्णतया जेडियाइट, एक अल्यूमिनियम बहुल पायरॉक्सीन होता है। देखेने में यह एक पारदर्शी या पाराभासी हरा पत्थर होता है।