The modern jade industry divides Hetian jade into three categories based on its different states of production: mountain material, hillstream material, and seed jade.
Mountain material, also known as mine material, refers to primary jade ore mined from mountains. The characteristics of mountain material are inconsistent block sizes, angular shapes, rough surfaces, and irregular fractures, making it difficult to assess the internal quality of the jade. Mountain material is the origin of various jade materials and also the main source of jade. Different types of jade all have mountain material, such as white jade mountain material, celadon white jade mountain material, etc.
Hillstream material is named by jade collectors, referring to primary jade ore that has undergone weathering and fallen apart, and then been flushed and transported to the middle and upper reaches of rivers by floods.