Rings & Things: Gemstone Beads Index

Gemstones beginning with P

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.
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paua shell beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Paua Shell (-097)
aka Sea Opal
Its stunning display of vibrant, iridescent colors makes the paua shell unique among the world's nearly 130 abalone varieties. Paua shell cabochons are often dyed blue and capped with clear or blue acrylic. Paua's raw shell is definitely bluer than California abalone, yet not as blue as some of the paua shell beads on the market, so we have to assume that the shell is often enhanced with blue color. The beads we've seen and carry don't appear to have plastic on them but might be dyed. It has long been believed that the many shimmering colors of the paua shell balance and align the chakras of the human body. Some believe that the paua shell aids in creativity and strengthens the heart chakra. Paua is only found around New Zealand coasts.
 
peach stone Peach Stone
This fruity stone gives you the all of the hue and none of the fuzz! Aside from its splendid color, we don't know much about peach stone, though we think it might be a serpentine.
 
Pearl
It's said that if diamonds are a girl's best friend, then pearls must be her favorite sister. This lustrous gemstone is one of the June birthstones. It acquired its name from the ancient Romans, who wore elongated pearls as ear pendants that they called pirla, a slang diminutive of pira ("pear"). The pearl is an organic gem grown within oysters and a few other mollusks. It is formed when a foreign object, like a tiny stone, makes its way into the mollusk's shell. The irritation caused by the foreign particle makes the oyster secrete nacre to cover it. Nacre is the same material that forms the mollusk's shell. When dried, the particle again irritates the animal, so it begins to secrete again; as thousands of layers of nacre coat the intruder, a pearl is formed. The process takes anywhere from four months to seven years - the longer the process, the bigger the pearl. A single mollusk can create dozens of pearls at a time, depending on how many particles enter the shell. "Cultured" pearls are those in which people, rather than nature, implant the intruding material, and care for the mollusks in a protective environment (a pearl farm) while the pearls are formed. Nearly all pearls available today are cultured, and only one out of four cultivated oysters lives to create a marketable pearl. Natural pearls are very rare (and valuable!), so the word "pearl" should be assumed as "cultured pearl" unless otherwise noted.
Pearls formed by saltwater oysters are commonly known as oriental pearls and those produced by freshwater mollusks are called freshwater pearls. Our pearl stock is freshwater only, and like most other freshwater pearls, is cultured in China. Most cultured fine pearls (also known as oriental pearls) are produced in Japan. In the warmer waters of the South Pacific, large Tahitian black pearls are cultured (we do not carry these, but do have nice Swarovski® crystal "pearls" with a similar appearance). The surface of a pearl is rough to the touch. Cultured and natural pearls can be distinguished from imitation pearls by a simple test: rub the pearl gently against the edge of your tooth. Cultured and natural pearls will feel slightly gritty, like fine sandpaper, while imitations will feel as smooth as glass (because the surface is molded or painted on a smooth bead). However, this is not always a reliable test, as some imitations have achieved "grittiness."
Some mother-of-pearl beads are cut from shells of the same mollusks that create pearls, as both gemstones consist of nacre. Nacre is mainly composed of aragonite (calcium carbonate) and conchiolin. Pearls are quite soft (Mohs scale hardness of 2.5) and are among the world's softest gemstones. When viewed under magnification, discontinuous wavy lines are visible throughout the pearl. This stone is distinguished by its iridescence and luster, as well as by a delicate play of surface color called orient. Freshwater pearls are found in a variety of shapes, including corn, potato, teardrop, rice crispie, rice/oval, and almost round or roundish. For fine (oriental) pearls, the more perfect its shape (spherical or droplike) and the deeper its luster, the greater its value. Other factors that affect value are the regularity of the shape, size and color.
Pearl colors range from black to white, depending upon the mollusk, its diet and its environment. India's rose pearl is one of the most popular colors. Other colors include cream, gray, blue, yellow, lavender, green and mauve. Enhancement is a common way to produce different colors. For example, pearls are often bleached to improve their whiteness - this permanent enhancement provides a more uniform appearance. Pearls are extremely porous and readily accept dyes, which can be used to produce any pearl color, making it easier (and therefore less expensive) to create matched strands. Be aware that dyes can fade over time. Irradiation (applying gamma rays to a stone) darkens the nucleus to produce darker pearls, like blues, grays and blacks, and most experts believe this treatment to be permanent. Metallic pearl colors are often gamma-ray irradiated as well. In some cases, they are irradiated and dyed. As a rule of thumb, all bright or striking pearl colors are dyed and/or enhanced.
Pearls are less durable than most gems, and are sensitive to acids, dryness and extreme humidity. Therefore, they should be cared for accordingly:
  • If you wear cosmetics, perfume or hair spray, apply them before putting on your pearl jewelry.
  • When taking off your pearls, wipe them with a dry, lint-free cloth. The calcium carbonate in pearls dissolves in human sweat or oil from the skin, and this will diminish the pearls' luster.
  • Be sure they don't get exposed for a long time to direct sunlight, especially ultraviolet rays; the protein in pearls becomes yellow under sunlight.
  • When your pearls need cleaning, use warm soapy water (never an ultrasonic cleaner), taking care not to get water into the drill hole as the pearl may discolor.
  • Dry your pearls flat on an absorbent, soft (and preferably lint-free) towel.
  • Store them away from contact with metals or harder stones that might damage them. Also, don't store them in plastic, as it will seal out air, thereby accelerating deterioration.
  • Don't just leave them in a drawer - wear them at least once a month, as the mild humidity from your skin is good for them.
Pearls were once important financial assets, comparable in price to real estate, as thousands of oysters had to be searched to find a single pearl that had been created only by chance. Pliny the Elder wrote that Cleopatra once bet Mark Anthony that she could serve him a dinner so expensive it would never be equaled. The banquet was indeed opulent but no more so than Cleopatra had served on other occasions. Mark Anthony thought he had won the bet until Cleopatra, who was wearing two huge pearl earrings valued at $1.3 million in modern currency, removed one and dropped it into her glass of wine, where it quickly dissolved. She then drank the concoction and a judge declared Anthony the loser. Legend also says Christopher Columbus was sure he had arrived in Japan, already famous for its white orbs, when he discovered American Indians wearing pearls.
The Chinese were the first to culture a product from freshwater mussels, beginning as far back at the 13th century; however, their creations were not traditional pearls, but rather shell mabes (blister-shaped or hemispherical pearls that form against the shell rather than within the mollusks' tissues). Japan cultured the first fully shaped freshwater pearls after experimenting with freshwater mussels in Lake Biwa, near Kyoto. The first commercial freshwater pearl crops appeared in the 1930s, and became instantly sought, as the all-nacre Biwa pearls formed in colors unseen in saltwater pearls. Their luster and luminescence rivaled naturally occurring pearls because they, too, were pearls throughout. Biwas' success and publicity were so effective that until recently, all freshwater pearls were commonly referred to as "Biwas" - no matter where they came from and regardless of U.S. laws prohibiting such references unless the pearls are actually from Biwa. Nowadays, most freshwater pearls come from farms in China. The production of fine (oriental) cultured pearls also was perfected by the Japanese, a short time before they began culturing freshwater pearls. Kokichi Mikimoto concluded in the 1890s that a very small mother-of-pearl bead introduced into the mollusk's tissue was the most successful stimulant to pearl production. Oriental pearls have remained the most renowned and by far the most valuable. In 1916, Cartier & Co. traded two strands of them for a majestic building on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Jacqueline Kennedy later brought the gemstone to the height of modern fashion, regularly donning multistrand pearl necklaces both during and after her reign as first lady.
The pearl is said to improve self-worth and help people see themselves. It is an emblem of modesty, chastity and purity that symbolizes love, success and happiness. The gemstone also is associated with ministry, bringing wisdom through experience. Pearls are purported to help to attune the chakras; the gentle colors bring soft, healing energy to meditation. By helping people master the heart chakra, they are reported to aid stomach, spleen, intestinal tract and ulcer problems. In addition to their metaphysical properties, pearls are believed to eliminate emotional imbalances. They also enjoy a long and varied list of "uses." These include cures for eye ailments, heart trouble, fever, bleeding, poisoning and indigestion. Pearls' high calcium content has prompted many to drink pearl-water tonics to increase vitality, relieve eyestrain or soothe burning urination. Pearls are found in Japan, China, Tahiti, Ceylon, Scotland, Norway, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, the U.S.A., Mexico and Myanmar. The finest oriental pearls are found in the Persian Gulf.

 
  blister pearl beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Blister Pearls
aka Mabe Pearls, Shell Mabes
When a foreign object invades a mollusk (or has been implanted), the ensuing pearl typically develops within the soft body of the mollusk. Sometimes, however, the object becomes embedded in the inner surface of the mollusk's shell. When this happens, a blister pearl develops. Because it develops right next to the hard shell, a blister pearl always has one flat side. Often, the developed pearl is then cut away from the shell, creating a button (bouton) or mabe pearl that can be placed in a bezel or other holder to hide its flat side. Sometimes, however, sections of shell that contain one or more blister pearls are cut out to create unique and beautiful organic surfaces for pendants and other decorative items.
 
  cream freshwater pearl beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Cream Freshwater Pearls (#20-___-015)
Cream-colored pearls have an ivory tinge and are possibly dyed. Be aware that dye can fade over time.
  dark-blue freshwater pearl beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Dark-Blue Freshwater Pearls (#20-___-447)
Our dark-blue pearls are likely irradiated to achieve their color. This is a permanent treatment.
 
  garnet freshwater pearl beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Garnet Freshwater Pearls (#20-___-__-242)
The deep-wine color in these beads comes from dye, making them a great complement to garnet stones. Be aware that dye can fade over time.
 
  light-blue freshwater pearl beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Light-Blue Freshwater Pearls (#20-___-446)
These pearls have been dyed to achieve their color. Be aware that dye can fade over time.
 
  multicolor freshwater pearls (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Multicolor Freshwater Pearls (#20-___-999)
These are pearls of the same shape in different colors, usually a mix of white, cream, pink and/or peach, strung together. Many (but not all) of the multicolor strands we receive are sold to us as natural color, and our observations support this. When we visited freshwater pearl farms in China wwe were surprised to see how many pearls were produced by one mussel, and that each mussel produced a variety of colors. At the pearl market in Jiangsu province, we saw people sorting and grading hundreds of kilos of cultured pearls in natural white, pink, cream and other soft, pastel colors. Although the majority of our multicolor pearl strands are natural, sometimes a batch (or a few colors on a strand) may be enhanced in some way. White pearls might be bleached, which is permanent, and other colors might be dyed, a treatment which can fade over time.
 
  peach freshwater pearl beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Peach Freshwater Pearls (#20-___-661)
The color on these pearls is possibly dyed. Be aware that dye can fade over time.
 
  pink freshwater pearl beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Pink Freshwater Pearls (#20-___-151)
Pink is one of the most coveted pearl colors, and some of ours might be dyed. Be aware that dye can fade over time.
 
  shell pearl beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Shell Pearls
aka Shellies
A cross between real and faux gemstone, the shell pearl has become popular for its perfect shape, feel and cost. Shell pearls are a genuine shell bead (usually mother of pearl) with a pearlized coating. The core is made from the same type of shells that produce real pearls. Therefore, the center of a shell pearl is its most important trait, bestowing weight, value and durability. The creation process begins with pulverizing shells into a mix. The resulting material is combined with a binder and then formed into a perfectly shaped bead. The final step is adding the pearl coating, in which the primary ingredient is often ground fish scales or pearl powder. Some labs dip the beads into a coating solution, while others use high-powered sprayers.
Shell pearls are unique in that their shape and color can be controlled, and they are available in almost any hue imaginable. The beads closely imitate the precise roundness and shine of oriental pearls, at a fraction of the cost. Their shell center also gives them a similar weight and feel to their expensive counterparts. In fact, the imitation is so fine that if you laid shell pearls next to cultured South Sea pearls of comparable quality and color, you wouldn't be able distinguish them. No matter how close the imitation, however, a shell pearl can easily be detected by the tooth test and by looking closely around the hole — the shell color inside is visible, and the pearly finish is often chipped just around the hole. But these issues are unnoticeable once the bead is strung. The finish on shell pearls will sometimes exhibit pock marks and nicks, like a freshwater pearl. Shell pearls are easier to care for than natural pearls; they are much less affected by sweat, perfume and detergents, and have a more durable shine and color.
  gray freshwater pearl beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Silver/Gray Freshwater Pearls (#20-___-__-036)
The cool silver hue on these beads is created via dye. Be aware that dye can fade over time.
 
  Swarovski crystal pearl beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Swarovski® Crystal Pearls (#05-810-)
aka Crystal Core Pearl, Lead Crystal Pearl
These "pearls" are absolutely faux and absolutely fabulous! Each bead has a genuine Swarovski crystal core and a synthetic pearly coating. Crystal pearls are the premium, top-grade imitation pearl. They are comparable to organic pearls in shape, depth of luster, weight and even response to skin temperature. The Swarovski group's innovative coating technology applies the pearl finish in many layers, creating a glow that seems to radiate from within. The finished beads have a smooth, sensuous texture, a perfect shape and consistent color. The high specific gravity of crystal gives the bead an appropriately moderate weight.
The beads' perfect luster is entirely free of flaws, while most manufactured pearls are either too shiny, too matte or have fibrous or bumpy surface flaws. Manufactured pearls also tend to be too lightweight and are prone to fading and chipping. However, crystal pearls are resistant to wear, perspiration, sunlight, scratches, perfumes and washing. As an added bonus, Swarovski updates its product line twice a year, inspiring designers with new colors and shapes.
  white freshwater pearl beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) White Freshwater Pearls (#20-___-011)
White is the color most commonly associated with pearls, and they are likely bleached to achieve maximum whiteness.
 
peridot beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Peridot (-033)
aka Bastard Emerald, Chrysolite, Evening Emerald, Hawaiite, Night Emerald, Peridote
This olivine variety is composed of magnesium iron silicate. Peridot (pronounced PEAR-ih-doh or PEAR-ih-dot) is created under great temperatures and pressures deep within the Earth, and sometimes is extruded in basaltic lavas. Its yellow-green color is mainly dependent on the amount of ferrous iron present. The traditional birthstone of August, peridot's name origin is uncertain, but several theories exist. Some attribute it to the French peritot, meaning "unclear" (probably due to the inclusions and cloudy nature of large gemstones). It also could be named for the Arabic word faridat, which simply means "gem." Peridot splits and bends the rays of light passing through it, giving it a velvety, sleepy appearance along with a rich glow. Throughout time, peridot has been confused with many other gemstones, including emerald. In fact, many "emeralds" in royal treasures have turned out to be peridots! Other green gemstones confused with peridot are apatite (which is much softer), green garnets and moldavites (which have no double refraction), green tourmaline and green sinhalite (both of which are strongly pleochroic), and green zircon (which is significantly heavier).
Peridot is occasionally treated with colorless oil, wax and natural or synthetic unhardened resins, which are placed into voids to improve appearance. Surface fractures are sometimes filled with a colorless hardened substance. It is safe to assume that any inexpensive peridot is treated in one of these ways, ours included. These gemstone beads usually are cut in India, so irregularities in shape, size or other qualities should be expected. The relative softness of peridot requires special care and handling: it is susceptible to acids, particularly hydrochloric and sulphuric, which will remove a gemstone's polish surprisingly quickly. Quick temperature changes, scratches and sharp blows also should be avoided. Do not clean peridot in a home ultrasonic cleaner.
Peridot mining dates back about 4,000 years, and the gemstone is mentioned in the Bible under the Hebrew name pitdah. Valuable peridots have been excavated in Egypt and faceted stones have been found in the ruins of ancient Greece. In Roman times, it was known as "evening emerald," since peridot appears green even in weak light. Peridot is said to have been the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra. The Greeks and Romans referred to peridot as topazion and topazius, respectively, but this name was later given to topaz to end the confusion between the two gems. The gemstone was introduced to Europe during the Middle Ages by the Crusaders, who used it for ecclesiastical purposes. It remained popular in the Baroque era. Hawaiian legend holds that peridot is the goddess Pele's tears, and the Ottoman sultans gathered a large collection during their 600-year reign (1300-1918), with an impressive array of both loose gemstones as well as peridot earrings, rings and other jewelry.
Dreaming of peridot is said to be a warning to use caution. The stone is purported to help slow the aging process, both physically and mentally, and also to facilitate the birthing process. It often is said to help speech, increasing its eloquence and removing impediments, and it sometimes used to find lost or misplaced things. Many believe it to increase patience, confidence and assertiveness. Natural healers use peridot to heal the heart and lungs, but some say the gemstone should not be worn during chakra work, as it places a seal around the chakras.
For years, the United States was the largest producer of peridot, mining it in Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii and New Mexico. However, China and Pakistan are now also competitors for the title of world's largest peridot producer. The gem is also found in Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Myanmar and Norway, and has been mined from St John's Island in the Red Sea for more than 3,500 years.

 
China-cut peridot beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) China-Cut Peridot (-033-01)
Peridot beads cut in China are typically consistent in their shape and drill holes, and sized uniformly on each strand. They are often stones of lesser quality with higher-quality finishes than gemstone beads cut elsewhere.
 
India-cut peridot beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) India-Cut Peridot (-033-09)
Peridot beads cut in India tend to be somewhat irregular in shape, with holes that are sometimes off-center and rough. Their color is good, but there are sometimes flat spots on the beads, and sizes may vary on each strand.
 
petrified palm wood beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things)
more examples
Petrified Palm Wood (-160)
aka Palm Jasper
This gemstone is the fossilized wood of palm trees from the Oligocene Epoch, which occurred about 20 to 40 million years ago. The petrified wood formed when a tree died and was buried by sediments. Minerals in the groundwater then permeated the wood, replacing the original organic matter and turning it to stone. The main mineral is silica, but trace elements in the silica create a variety of colors. The stone contains prominent, rodlike structures within the regular grain of the silicified wood, which form the characteristic spotted look of palm wood. Depending on how the stone is cut, these structures show up as spots, tapering rods or lines. Due to the fossilization process, these beads often have small holes that add a distinctive texture. Petrified palm wood is very hard and takes an excellent polish, making it a great stone for jewelry. Mystics believe this gemstone removes petty annoyances and enhance one's connection to earth and nature. The main source of this stone is the U.S. Gulf Coast Plain (Texas, where it is the state stone and Louisiana, where it is designated as the state fossil). Other fossil gemstones: agatized fossil coral, dinosaur bone.
 
picasso marble beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Picasso Marble
aka Picasso Jasper, Picasso Stone
This gemstone's appearance could be described as formal and masculine, earthy and subtle. Like all forms of marble, picasso marble comes from limestone. It was formed when magma covered limestone fields during prehistoric times. As heat and pressure forced the magma through fractures in the limestone, it painted the material with gray and tan colors streaked with black lines. The resulting patterns are as dramatic and abstract as the works of Pablo Picasso, and thus the gemstone acquired its name.
Picasso marble is very new to the market but has been used by Zuñi fetish carvers for some time. A rare dreaming gemstone, it is said to assist a shaman in discovering the cause of past imbalances. It also is said to aid in circulation problems and increase the body's metabolism, therefore causing weight loss. Some believe picasso marble transforms intuition into intellectual thought and will renew old friendships that have been lost. The gemstone comes only from mines in Utah (U.S.A.).

 
pietersite beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Pietersite
This beautiful variety of tigereye was first discovered by Sid Pieters in 1962 while prospecting farmland. It is most commonly found in Namibia, South Africa, and in 1993 was found near Nanyang, Henan, China. Pietersite is an altered crocidolite. Crocidolite, a form of asbestos, is a lavender-blue or light green mineral that occurs as silky fibers in massive form. The coloring of pietersite is a direct result of how the Earth forms the stone. This variety of tigereye is formed through a process of brecciation: when the fibers of hawkeye, the blue variety of tigereye, and tigereye itself are broken down by the Earth's geological processes and then stirred up, the tiny sharp-angled fragments of the stones are essentially glued together by silica (impure forms of quartz). Our pietersite is gray to gray-blue and some may have small inclusions of red or gold. Chinese pietersite has a distinctive gold color and is just as beautiful as the African stones. It was not exported to the West until 1997, when the Chinese became aware of its value.
Pietersite is said to be helpful for spiritual leaders and channellers as it allows them a clearer flow of their energy. It has been called "the key to the kingdom of heaven." It is also said to be stimulating for the pituitary gland, which helps to regulate the other endocrine glands, which in turn aid growth, sexual health, metabolism, blood pressure and body temperature.

 
pic_not_avail Prase
aka Edinite, Green Prase, Green Quartz, Prasem, Prasio, Prasius 
This gemstone wins high "prase" from the gem community. A dull green chalcedony (quartz), it is a darker, more translucent form of chrysoprase. It is often considered a jasper. Prase derives its color from nickel and mineral inclusions of chlorite and amphibole. Its name comes from the Greek prason, or "leek," as its color resembles the herb. Prase is believed to resolve sexuality issues and give a sense of oneness with the universe. It is believed to bring one their ultimate soul mate and encourage sense of humor, awareness, adaptability and enthusiasm. It is also though to bring about an interest in reading. Some say it will enhance the dream state, ease guilt and promote a loving nature. This rarely-seen gemstone comes largely from Eastern Europe.
 
prenite beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Prehnite
aka Cape Emerald
This pale green stone has the distinction of being the first mineral named after a person. In the mid-18th century, Dutch mineralogist Colonel Hendrik Von Prehn (1733-1785) discovered it within Jurassic dolerite (volcanic rock) on the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. For many years, prehnite was regarded as a fairly rare gemstone. However, recent finds in Australia and China have made it available through many gem dealers. Prehnite is a hydrous silicate of alumina and lime, with bright, almost luminescent green coloring. It forms thick crusts with a rough or crystalline texture, and is commonly found in cavities and "pillows" along fractures of basalt. Usually ranging from pale to grass green, prehnite can also be gray, white, black, brown or colorless. Its luster is vitreous to waxy, or pearly, and its crystals are transparent to mostly translucent. It is very long-wearing and tough.
Prehnite is often found with zeolites and is sometimes considered a zeolite, but the two stones are from different geologic classes. However, like zeolites, prehnite can give off water when heated, but cannot gain the water back. Minerals confused with prehnite include gyrolite, smithsonite and hemimorphite. Prehnite is harder than all of these and lacks smithsonite's unusual luster. Hemimorphite is usually blue, and gyrolite is not as glassy.
Once Von Prehn had returned to Europe with his specimens, mineral collector Balthazar Sage became the first to describe the stone. In a 1777 writing, Sage referred to the new mineral as "chrysotile." The earliest illustration of prehnite is probably the excellent hand-colored plate in the minerology work Gautier d'Agoty's Histoire Naturelle Regne Mineral, produced around 1789. There, the stone is labeled Chorle vert, du Cap de Bonne Esperance ("Green schorl from the Cape of Good Hope"). 1789 was also the year in which German geologist Abraham Werner named the species prehnite after Von Prehn, setting a nomenclatural precedent that endures to this day.
Known as the "prediction stone" among spiritual healers, prehnite is believed to enhance one's protective field, dreaming and remembrance. Crystal healers use the stone to reduce high blood pressure and control hypertension, as it is believed prehnite's color and unusual touch generate serenity and tranquility. It is also thought to build the immune system and treat blood disorders. Notable occurrences of prehnite include the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, the U.S.A. (Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia), India, Germany, Austria, Scotland, Namibia, Canada, China, New South Wales, Australia and France.

 
pyrite beads (image courtesy of Rings & Things) Pyrite (-050)
aka Fool's Gold, Marcasite
This stone caused a lot of disappointment in the mid-1800s! Historically mistaken for gold, pyrite is actually iron sulfide and has an opaque, shiny, metallic luster. Though very brittle, the gemstone is harder than gold and leaves a greenish-black streak, while gold leaves a golden-yellow one. Pyrite is also magnetic. It is named for the Greek word pyr, or "fire," as it produces sparks when struck with steel. Pyrite is the major cause of acid rain; when coal-containing pyrite is burned, sulfuric acid is formed by oxidation. It is so common in the Earth's crust that it is found in almost every possible environment, hence it has a vast number of forms and varieties. The gem trade often mistakenly calls pyrite "marcasite," and although the mineral marcasite has the same chemical composition as pyrite, it crystallizes in a different crystal system.
Pyrite has been used in jewelry and ornamentation for thousands of years. The Incas used large slabs of polished pyrite as magnificent mirrors — the opposite side was strongly convex, and these mirrors were sometimes used for divination. Mystics today still use mirrors like these to awaken psychic impulses. North American Indians used pyrite as amulets, which medicine men employed in the course of their incantations. Today, pyrite is used to foster intelligence, mental stability, logic and analytical ability. It has been said to encourage cleverness and creativity, and open the channels between the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

 

bead_show_truck 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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