Message #43693

[Rayw1]

The original photos look exactly like rocks that I bought in Mae Sai in 2007 on the Thailand/Burma border.  The entry point here is commonly used for the smuggling of Burmese rubies and spinel so it makes sense that this stuff is coming out of Burma.
I paid a few dollars for half pound size pieces that did have polished faces.  They are though very grainy and appear more like an aventurine than jadeite.

In Hong Kong jade markets, you can buy any amount of "jade".  Anything at all coloured somewhat green or mauve coloured is sold as jade.  I bought some doughnut shaped polished stones of reconstituted stone dyed green and purple that the seller absolutely positively swore was jade.  At $A2 ($US1.80)a stone it was just good fun.