Gemstones beginning with B

Click the gemstone name or picture to visit our online store

• This index includes a wide variety of information about all of the gemstones from which our wholesale beads are made, including some that are not currently stocked but might be reordered in the future.
• Stones are listed in alphabetical order, grouped by family; for instance, Botswana Agate is listed under Agate, and Red Snowflake Obsidian under Obsidian.
• The "also known as" (aka) listings are often misnomers; we're just letting you know of other names we've seen (right or wrong!).
• To the best of our knowledge, all of 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 or another. The stone coloring process does not necessarily involve a colorant like those used for cloth.

	Black Stone (-043) This ink-colored gemstone closely resembles black onyx; however, since we have been unable to verify its true classification, "black stone" is the most honest name for it. This gemstone usually appears less shiny than onyx.
	Bloodstone (-098) aka Heliotrope, Martyr's Stone This dark-green variety of chalcedony (quartz) is dotted with nodules of bright-red jasper. Polished sections therefore show red spots on a dark-green background, resembling drops of blood and inspiring its name. In ancient times, bloodstone was attributed with the power to stop hemorrhages at the merest touch. It was greatly prized in the Middle Ages, as the spots were thought to be the blood of Jesus Christ. For this reason, bloodstone was commonly used in sculptures representing martyrdom. Mystics today hold that bloodstone relieves stomach and bowel pain, strengthens blood-purifying organs and improves blood circulation.
	Bronzite aka Brownzite Bronzite is actually a hypersthene (part of the pyroxene group) that has been chemically "weathered." The process creates a new, opaque stone with a submetallic luster, especially on its cleavage surfaces. Weathering on the hypersthene occurs due to moisture and temperature conditions within the igneous rock, metamorphic rock or meteorite where the stone is found. Bronzite often contains inclusions of highly reflective minerals, such as hematite and goethite, which give it a beautiful bronzelike effect when polished (hence its name). Some beads also exhibit a cat's-eye effect. Bronzite ranges from greenish-black to brown and has medium hardness. The stone is found in Syria, Austria, South Africa, and the U.S.A. (Montana). Bronzite is believed to facilitate a feeling of certainty when goal-setting and help individuals take control of their actions and decisions. It is said to promote "correct" or "principled" behavior and help dispel restlessness. Physically, many say it helps the body assimilate iron and increases acidity within the body.
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 tour, which stops at more than 50 U.S. cities each year.

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