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Gemstone Beads Index
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Click a gemstone name or picture below to shop in our online store, or return to the Menu.
- Stones are alphabetized by family. For example, to find information on Red Creek Jasper look under "J" for "Jasper".
- Not all gemstones listed below are current stock. Some might be unavailable, or only available at our traveling Bead Shows.
- "Also known as" (aka) listings are often misnomers; we list other names we've seen, right or wrong!
- To the best of our knowledge, our gemstones are natural and untreated unless otherwise noted.
- We use the term "dyed" to describe stones to which color has been added through some process. The coloring process does not necessarily involve a colorant like those used for cloth.
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more examples
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Impression Stone
aka African Blue Opal, Aqua Terra Jasper, Impression Jasper, Sea Sediment Jasper
While this gemstone has become increasingly popular, very little is known about its origins or true composition. We do believe it is a natural stone that has been enhanced to make its surface harder. Since its properties are consistent with those of jasper, it has acquired a variety of descriptive jasper names in the marketplace. Its lovely aquamarine color and sandy brown matrix create an impressionist landscape worthy of Monet! It is a fairly soft stone (durable enough for daily wear, but we wouldn't recommend tumbling it with steel shot).
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Iolite (-046)
aka Cordierite, Dichroite, Spanish Lazulite, Vikings' Compass, Water Sapphire
The name iolite comes from the Greek ios ("violet"). This blue silicate mineral occurs as crystals or grains in igneous rocks, only as a result of magma contamination by aluminous sediment. It is sometimes called "water sapphire" because it is found in water deposits and commonly mistaken for top-grade blue sapphires. Most of our iolite beads are cut in India, so irregularities in shape, size or other qualities should be expected.
One of the neatest attributes of iolite is its extreme pleochroism, or ability to change colors depending from which angle you look at it. It was this property that made iolite so valuable to the Vikings. It is commonly known as "Vikings' compass" since these legendary mariners are reported to have used thin iolite lenses to polarize the light and determine the exact position of the sun, and therefore their course, on overcast days.
Iolite is said to open one to psychic talents and expand them, and is supposed to be excellent for use on the third eye and crown chakras. It also is believed to enhance curiosity, stimulate visions and help the wearer deal with addictions, including alcoholism (it assists in detoxification as well as maintaining sobriety). Physically, iolite is used to help heal sore throats, varicose veins and blisters. Iolite is found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, India, Madagascar, Brazil and the U.S.A.
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Why can't I click on some stone names?
Some stones are not currently part of our regular stock, meaning we don't sell them in our wholesale catalog or online. However, these may still be available on our traveling Bead Show, which stops at more than 50 U.S. cities each year.
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