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Agate, Blue
Blue
agate is a smooth, semi-translucent, vivid blue. Agate is a variety of chalcedony,
which is a kind of quartz mixed with other elements, often iron and aluminum.
Chalcedony is named after the ancient Greek city of Chalcedon, located in
Asia Minor. Blue agate is noteworthy for its incredible color and its luminescence.
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Agate, Forrest
Forrest agate is a smooth, opaque mix of chatoyant reds and
yellows separated by patches of milky white and black. Forrest agate is
variety of quartz,
which is composed of silicon dioxide, and is
usually from Austria and South West Africa. No
two beads have the same pattern, which is likened to leaves that have fallen
on the ground in a forest and caught an unexpected sunbeam.
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Agate, Moss
Moss agate is a smooth, semi-translucent mix of pale mint
and milky white with green moss-like patches. No two beads have the same
pattern of tree- or moss-like tendrils. Agate is a variety of chalcedony,
which is a kind of quartz mixed with other elements, often iron and aluminum.
Chalcedony is named after the ancient Greek city of Chalcedon, located in
Asia Minor. It is easy to lose oneself in examining the stunning designs
of each bead!
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Agate, Blue Lace
Blue lace agate is a smooth, semi-translucent, pale blue
with bands of white and translucency. Agate is a variety of chalcedony,
which is a kind of quartz mixed with other elements, often iron and aluminum.
Chalcedony is named after the ancient Greek city of Chalcedon, located in
Asia Minor. Blue lace agate has a delicate color and unique bands of opacity
and translucence.
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Amazonite
Amazonite is a smooth, opaque, bright yet light green-blue
stone with bands of paler green and white. It is an orthoclase feldspar,
the same family as moonstone, and is mainly composed of potassium aluminum
silicate, sometimes with a good deal of sodium. Fine amazonite is known
to come from Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Virginia in the USA, but the finest
is known to come from Russia. Amazonite is a physically light stone and
has a bright, pleasant, blueish green color.
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Amethyst (A+)
Amethyst is a smooth, transparent, clear deep purple. Amethyst
is a kind of quartz, composed of silicon dioxide and traces of other elements.
Good amethyst comes from Brazil, Uruguay, and Mexico. Amethyst is prized
for its deep, rich, wine-colored hue, and this amethyst is of A+ gemstone
quality, making it exceptionally fine. |
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Aventurine, Dark
Aventurine is a smooth, translucent, cloudy light green with
faint sparkles. Aventurine is a kind of quartz, which is composed of silicon
dioxide, with traces of other elements, such as mica or hematite. Most aventurine
is from either Brazil, India, or Russia. Aventurine is noteworthy for its
translucence and inclusions of mica or hematite, which sparkle and catch
the light.
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Carnelian
Carnelian is smooth, translucent, and a warm orange red.
Carnelian
is a variety of chalcedony, which is a kind of quartz mixed with other elements,
often iron and aluminum. Chalcedony is named after the ancient Greek city
of Chalcedon, located in Asia Minor. Fine carnelian comes from India and
South America. The rich color evokes happy
memories of laughter on sunny Autumn days.
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Chrysocolla
Chrysocolla is rough, opaque, and bright green with flecks
of brown, black, and blue. Chrysocolla is a copper ore and is found in areas
where green malachite is transitioning into blue azurite. Most chrysocolla
is found in Arizona, USA. The wildly-patterned chrysocolla cannot be mistaken
for any other stone!
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Garnet
(Almandine)
Almandine garnet is a smooth, transparent, rich red stone
that owes its color to the presence of iron. This particular type of garnet
is named after Alabanda, an ancient town in Caria (Asia Minor). Fine almandine
garnets have come from Alaska, Idaho, and Michigan, USA.The
color has been described as a deep, red wine and as the color of blood. |
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Goldstone,
Blue
Blue goldstone is a smooth, opaque, dark purple stone with
small gold-colored sparkles. It is a man-made mateial, consisting of tiny
copper flakes set in deep-colored glass. When this material catches the
light, it also catches the eye! |
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Jade, Red
Red jade is a smooth, semi-translucent, bright red stone.
True jade is a mineral called nephrite, a dense combination of tremolite
and actinolite. This particular jade is, in all reality, semi-translucent
quartz that has been dyed to a vivid shade of red. This material is noteworthy
for its beautiful color and its luminescence. |
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Jasper,
African Picture
African picture jasper looks like a mix of light brown, green,
grey, yellow, and red chips. Jasper is a variety of chalcedony, which is
a kind of quartz mixed with other elements, often iron and aluminum. Chalcedony
is named after the ancient Greek city of Chalcedon, located in Asia Minor.
This is a fine stone for its striking pattern of light and dark, giving
the appearance of mountains. |
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Jasper,
Poppy
Poppy jasper looks like a mix of brown, green, grey, yellow,
and red chips. It is also known as brecciated jasper, which means angular
fragments of jasper cemented together. Jasper is a variety of chalcedony,
which is a kind of quartz mixed with other elements, often iron and aluminum.
Chalcedony is named after the ancient Greek city of Chalcedon, located in
Asia Minor. This is a fine stone for its deep color and unique appearance. |
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Marble
Marble is a somewhat smooth, opaque, white stone. Composed
of either calcite or dolomite, it is a fairly weak rock that, while able
to take a good shine, can be scratched easily with a knife. Industrially,
it is useful as a statuary material, in concrete mixtures, and in filtration
beds. Marble is an interesting material for giving the impression of glowing
with extra radiance in light.. |
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Onyx
Onyx is a smooth, opaque, black stone. It is a variety of
chalcedony, which is a kind of quartz mixed with other elements, often iron
and aluminum. Chalcedony is named after the ancient Greek city of Chalcedon,
located in Asia Minor. Onyx is prized for its pitch black color and its
strength. |
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Onyx, Green
Green onyx is a smooth, semi-translucent, green stone. It
has been called green onyx and green agate. Both agate and onyx are a variety
of chalcedony, which is a kind of quartz mixed with other elements, often
iron and aluminum. Chalcedony is named after the ancient Greek city of Chalcedon,
located in Asia Minor. Green onyx has a rich color that catches sunlight
well. |
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Rhodonite
Rhodonite is a smooth, opaque, pale pink stone with black
veins. It is named from the Greek word for rose. Rather fine rhodonite has
been found in New Jersey, USA. The delicated color of this stone is brought
out when contrasted to other, more brightly colored stones. |
