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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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Variscite (-134)
aka Amatrice, Amatrix, Barrandite, Bolivarite, California Turquoise, Lucinite, Nevada Turquoise, Sabalite, Utah Turquoise, Utahlite, Variquoise
Variscite is a relatively rare phosphate mineral that is named for Variscia, the medieval name of Vogtland, Germany. It is sometimes confused with turquoise but is usually greener. Variscite's bright color comes from traces of chromium. It has a waxy luster and takes a fine polish. This is a relatively soft stone that is easily damaged by acids, heat and rough handling. The safest way to clean it is with warm, soapy water.
The French word for variscite is variquoise. In the marketplace, variquoise sometimes means variscite, but sometimes refers to a unique combination of variscite and turquoise found in Utah and Nevada.
Variscite is believed to balance the central nervous system and ease depression, fear, worry, anxiety and impatience. Many feel it helps them remember past lives and build virtue, self-reliance, moral courage and success. Physically, it is said to help with skin and blood-vessel elasticity, as well as impotence. Variscite is found in the U.S.A. (Utah and Nevada), Australia, Germany and Brazil.
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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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