The conventional gemmological methods, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and infrared spectrometer analysis were used to investigate samples of imitation nephrite sold recently on the market and to analyze their gemological, mineralogical, spectral and surficial characteristics. The results show that the imitation nephrite material is fluorine-bearing canasite microcrystalline glass, a product of gradual crystallization of the main components of silica-based glass under the specific temperature conditions. Infrared spectrometer and XRD can be used to effectively identify fluorine-bearing canasite microcrystalline glass.