Pounamu (SMALL) also called Maori men symbols from New Zealand.

Maori are the people who inhabited New Zealand when it was discovered by Europeans. Their language is also called Maori. According to their tradition, they are not the original inhabitants - they arrived in New Zealand several centuries before the Europeans, where they displaced the actual original inhabitants. The word maori means 'normal' or 'ordinary person' in Maori. The word also occurs in other Polynesian languages, such as maoli in Hawaiian and maohi in Tahitian stand for original, real. The official spelling is Māori. The name Maori is also used to describe the people and language of the Cook Islands. Nephrite is a mineral with a densely felted actinolite. It has the chemical composition Ca2(Mg,Fe)5[(OH,F)(Si4O11)]2. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek word nephros - kidney. Nephrite has been known since ancient times, as numerous archaeological discoveries have shown. Due to its toughness, nephrite is suitable for making tools. Later they made decorative objects from it. In Babylon, nephrite was particularly prized because it was believed to have magical powers. In China, nephrite had great mythological significance and was used in religious ceremonies. It was very popular in Central America even before the arrival of Columbus. According to the Sumerians, nephrite was able to solve unexpected circumstances. It was claimed that it could cure kidney disease and renal colic. Nephrite is more common in nature than jadeite. Sometimes it forms large blocks. Stones weighing more than 5 tons have been found in Russia. A nephrite block weighing 30 tons has even been found in Burma. Historically important deposits are located in China, around Khotan in Sinkiang Province, in the Kunlun Mountains and in the Kashgar area. Cat's eye nephrites occur in Taiwan and Jordan. In the United States, nephrite is found in Brazil, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming and Alaska. Important deposits are known in New Zealand. The Maori were already extracting nephrite before the arrival of the Europeans in Arakuara and Lake Wakapitu. These stones are translucent and are considered the most beautiful nephrites in the world. Smaller occurrences have been documented in Australia, Kazakhstan, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Ireland.