Back on the horse: Recent developments in archaeological and palaeontological research in Alberta ARCHAEOLOGICAL survey OF alberta OCCASIONAL PAPER NO. 36 Pre-contact jade in Alberta: The geochemistry, mineralogy, and archaeological significance of nephrite ground stone tools Todd J. Kristensena*, Jesse Morinb, M. John M. Dukec, Andrew J. Locockd, Courtney Lakevolda, Karen Gieringe, and John W. Ivesf a Archaeological Survey of Alberta, Alberta Culture and Tourism, 8820-112th St. NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2P8 b Independent Heritage Consultant, 398 Butchers Road, Comox, British Columbia, Canada, V9M 3W6 c SLOWPOKE Nuclear Reactor Facility, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2N8 d Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E3 e Royal Alberta Museum, 12845 102 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5N 0M6 f Institute of Prairie Archaeology, Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H4 *corresponding author:
[email protected] ABSTRACT This article is the second in the Alberta Lithic Reference Project series, the goal of which is to assist the identification of raw materials used for pre-contact stone tools in the province. Each article focuses on one raw material; the current article discusses a microcrystalline, actinolite-tremolite (amphibole)-rich rock called nephrite (jade) that originates in British Columbia, Washington, Yukon, and Alaska. Nephrite appears in archaeological sites in northern and central Alberta. We provide results from a variety of non-destructive techniques (portable X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and near-infrared spectrometry) to determine the geochemistry and mineralogy of nephrite ground stone celts found in Alberta.