Raw New Zealand Pounamu Jade Offcut – Polished Greenstone Touchstone | Sacred Māori Stone for Craft or Ritual.

Raw New Zealand Pounamu Offcut – Polished & Natural Jade Piece

Hand-selected from authentic South Island Pounamu (New Zealand Greenstone), this unique offcut features a beautifully polished front and raw, uncut edges and back. A powerful balance of worked and wild, this tactile piece embodies the living energy of the land it comes from — holding mana (spiritual power) and deep ancestral resonance.

Each offcut is entirely unique, showcasing the vibrant greens, nephrite patterns, and subtle chatoyancy that make Pounamu so revered across Aotearoa. Ideal for carrying as a touchstone, using in craft or jewellery, or offering as a whakapapa (ancestral lineage) piece for altar or ritual work.

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🌿 Cultural Significance (Māori Perspective)

Pounamu is sacred in Māori culture — considered a taonga (treasure) and gifted between tribes and loved ones as a token of respect, peace, and protection. It is often passed down through generations, believed to absorb the wairua (spirit) of its wearer.

To Māori, Pounamu is alive, connected to the whakapapa (genealogy) of both land and people. Even a small fragment like this holds profound mana and should be treated with care and intention.

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🔬 Scientific & Geological Information
• Mineral Name: Nephrite (a variety of jade)
• Chemical Formula: Ca₂(Mg,Fe)₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
• Mineral Group: Amphibole (actinolite subgroup)
• Hardness: 6 – 6.5 (Mohs scale)
• Crystal System: Monoclinic
• Lustre: Waxy to silky when polished
• Transparency: Opaque to translucent
• Primary Source Region: Te Waipounamu (South Island, NZ), especially Westland
• Formation: Metamorphic rock, typically formed in subduction zones under high pressure
• Colouration: Ranges from olive green to deep forest green, with inclusions of iron or chromium creating natural patterning

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🧿 Creative, Ritual & Practical Uses:
• Craft Material: Suitable for wrapping, wire-setting, or embedding into sculpture or ceremonial tools
• Touchstone / Meditation Aid: Grounding, calming, ideal for daily carry
• Spiritual Use:
• Protection & Strength – Pounamu shields the wearer and builds inner resilience
• Ancestral Connection – especially powerful in work related to whakapapa, memory, and lineage
• Earth & Water Energy – a stone of both grounding and emotional flow

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📏 You Will Receive:
• One Pounamu offcut (raw back, polished front)
• Size: Approx. as shown in photos (each piece varies slightly in tone and texture)
• Sustainably sourced and processed with respect

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⚠️ Care Notes:
• Do not expose to harsh chemicals or prolonged direct sunlight
• Clean with soft cloth and water only
• Treat with respect as you would a cultural taonga