California Jade

Helicopter Jade Prospecting in The Trinity Alps

Written by Sam Gitchel with great thanks to Fred Ward and Charlotte Ward for editing.

Jade is one of the most prized gemstones in the world. The Orient has traditionally been the world’s primary source for jade, but California’s recent botryoidal jade finds are astounding the jade, suiseki and viewing stone world. As Sam Gitchel can tell you, helicopter prospecting for rare California jade is the adventure of a lifetime. Gitchel is a veteran jade prospector and businessman who, by a stroke of luck, became part owner of a remote piece of rugged land in the Trinity Alps.

The now dry Eel River
Photo by Heron Nelson

The recent botryoidal nephrite finds have been described as the most important since the discovery of imperial green jade. Naturally figurative nephrite jade nuggets (river blossoms) are left high and dry after massive winter rains in the Trinity Alps in Northern California where, several times a year, Gitchel, with a small, select crew of family and friends, prospects for jade.

To be continued