Maxianshan nephrite ore in Gansu Province was found in the Neoproterozoic Maxianshan group

a set of metamorphic strata consisting of migmatite

marble and biotite schist

which was regarded as one of the most important material sources of the nephrite jadewares of the Qijia Culture. In order to find out the probability of the Maxianshan nephrites as the raw materials of the nephrite jadewares of the Qijia Culture

the combined field investigation and instrumental analyses of XRD

SEM

EMPA

ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS are applied to analyze the mineralogy

petrology and geochemisty of Maxianshan nephrites and their country rocks

including mineral composition

structure feature

and chemical composition of the nephrites such as major & trace elements

rare earth elements

and therefore to explore the mineralization of the Maxianshan nephrite mine. The main findings are summarized as follows: ① Maxianshan nephrites are yellow-white to yellow-green (mostly green) in color

characterized by lamellar amorphous structure and fiber interwoven structure

and composed of more than 98% amount of tremolite mineral and tiny amount of sphene

zoisite and apatite minerals; ② The tremolite minerals in nephrites were formed in three mineralization periods

and the principal nephrite ore is mainly related to the tremolites of middle and late periods. The formation of jade grade nephrites was associated with marbleization caused by metasomatism in connection with late intruded alkali granites; ③ The Maxianshan nephrite is characterized by high Th/U

low Cu and REE element

and seagull REE distribution pattern

being different from other nephrites from Hetian of Xinjiang

Qinghai and Liaoning.