Gemstones beginning with R

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• 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.

	Rhodochrosite (-027) aka Inca Rose, Manganese Spar, Raspberry Spar, Rhodocrosite, Rosinca This uniquely marbled stone is a dance of various shades of pink, ranging from very light to deep raspberry. A manganese ore, rhodochrosite appears in a banded pattern with various white minerals (often calcite) that give it the look of a raw bacon strip! Its name is derived from the Greek words rhodon ("pink") and chros ("color"). Though it has certain similarities to another pink gemstone, rhodonite, the latter is harder and has different cleavage. The best distinguishing factor between the two, however, is rhodonite's lack of reaction to acids; rhodochrosite easily reacts to cold acids, which demonstrates its carbonate chemistry. The gemstone's vivid hues have made it a popular mineral, but its softness and brittleness require extra care in jewelry - the lack of hardness can make it lose its polish easily. Rhodochrosite should only be cleaned in cool, soapy water. During the rule of Inca Ripac (or "Viracocha"), the beautiful red stone was discovered in the Inca Empire. But when the Empire started its downfall, the mine was abandoned. In 1938, a German named Franz Mansfeld rediscovered the mine, and in the process also unearthed an Inca tomb holding funerary jewelry inside it. This led to the popular "rebaptism" of rhodochrosite as Inca Rose or Rosinca. Indians of the Andes today believe that the blood of their ancient rulers has turned into the gemstone. Mystics say rhodochrosite is helpful in moments of extreme physical stress; they also say it arouses passion, courage and fortitude, and bestows enthusiasm and dynamism to the mind. It is believed to make life busy and full of ideas, and to encourage eroticism and spontaneous expression of feelings. This gemstone is quite common, found in Argentina, Mexico, the U.S.A., Namibia, South Africa, Spain and Romania.
	Rhodonite (-047) aka Pink Marble Rhodonite is an opaque, deep-rosy-pink-to-lavender gemstone with characteristic black veins called dendrites. Composed of manganese silicate, it makes a more durable gemstone than rhodochrosite, which is streaked with white minerals and is reactive to acids. Rhodonite, on the other hand, does not react to acids and is usually associated with black manganese minerals and pyrite. Most cleaning methods are safe for rhodonite (ultrasonic, etc), but like with all gemstones, avoid rough handling and extreme heat. Sometimes called the "the singer's stone," rhodonite is said to improve sound sensitivity. Many also believe it to help with the nervous system and self-esteem, and to balance trauma. It has long been considered a strong, feminine stone, as in the velvet glove over the iron fist. Natural healers associate rhodonite with the throat chakra (fifth), to help one achieve potential and dispel worry. Important sources of this gemstone include Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Colorado (U.S.A.).
	Rhyolite (-017) aka Leopardskin Jasper, Rainforest Jasper Though at first glance it might look like jasper, rhyolite is an igneous rock with high silica content - chemically identical to granite. It cooled from a molten state (as hot as 2192°F), too quickly for crystals to form. Because rhyolitic magma and lava are so thick, they tend to build up pressure until a gas explosion in the volcano throws them all over the place in particles ranging from ash all the way up to big blocky chunks. The stone's mossy greens, browns and grays are reminiscent of a rainforest, and it presents interesting banding. Rhyolite represents change, variety and progress. It is said to light the fire of creativity within the soul and help with self-realization; it's believed to balance the emotions and increase self-respect, self-worth and the capacity to love. Rhyolite occurs largely in the U.S.A.
	Riverstone Riverstones are smooth, rounded pebbles found in rivers and on beaches. They become naturally polished as water and other rocks move against them. Some say they are related to jasper. This gemstone is known for its regenerative effect on the body and for its ability to relieve anxiety. It is also said to energize the aura, helping you make the changes that lead to greater spiritual experiences.
		Riverstone (-028) This is the standard, creamy beige riverstone. It has been very hard to obtain since 2003.
		Gray Riverstone (-084) This riverstone has a pale, ash color.
	Ruby (-113) From royal crowns to Dorothy's slippers to, of course, delicious jewelry, the ruby is a most desirable gemstone. Its hardness, durability, luster and rarity are among the world's finest, and its blazing red color is beyond compare. Ruby is the red variety of the corundum (aluminum oxide) mineral, a family that also includes sapphire, and takes its name from the Latin rubeus or ruber, meaning "red." Corundum (which sapphires and rubies are comprised of) is the second-hardest natural mineral known to mankind. Pure corundum is colorless; the presence of chromium impurities creates the fiery-colored stone known as ruby, and corundum of any other color is sapphire. Blue sapphires are simply called sapphire, and all other colors (except ruby) are preceded with their color (such as pink sapphire). Ruby is the July birthstone and is mined only rarely around the world. Millions of years ago, as chromium was giving rubies their wonderful color deep inside the Earth's core, it also was causing a multitude of fissures and tiny irregularities inside the crystals. Only a precious few ruby crystals could grow undisturbed to considerable sizes and crystallize to form a perfect gemstone. Color is the ruby's most important feature: transparency is secondary. Inclusions, therefore, don't affect the gemstone's quality (unless they decrease the transparency), but rather are the gemstone's fingerprints. However, imperfections and impurities can be removed by controlled heating; some rubies have fissures or surface breaks that are filled with a glasslike by-product of the heating process. Ruby was the first mineral to be produced by commercial synthesis and dates to the 1880s. Many people have brought family heirlooms for insurance appraisals only to be told that their "gemstone" was not natural. Many rubies on the market are synthetic, but only experts can distinguish between natural and synthetic. Despite their superb hardness, natural rubies are still subject to chipping and fracture if handled roughly. Our ruby beads are cut in India, so irregularities in shape, size or other qualities should be expected. For many years, India was considered the classical country of rubies. The literature of India contains a rich and varied knowledge of the stone covering 2,000 years. However, the ruby mines of Myanmar (formerly Burma) are older than history. Stone Age and Bronze Age mining tools have been found in Myanmar's Mogok Valley. The ancient Romans considered it the stone of the war god Mars, and in the Bible, Job says, "The price of wisdom is above rubies." Rubies are generously represented in crowns and scepters in the royal jewels of many nations. The stone has been called the "king of precious stones" or the "queen of gemstones." The symbol of devotion and love for centuries, many attribute rubies the power to stimulate sexual desire and energy. Because of their color, rubies are said to be very healing. Physical wounds and blood disorders, as well as emotional and spiritual wounds, are often treated with this gemstone. As a tool for meditation, rubies are extremely powerful for healing chakras (especially the first chakra), and they are said to bless the wearer with health, wealth and wisdom. The gemstones are found in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, the U.S.A. (North Carolina), Afghanistan, Kenya, Tanzania and Kampuchea.
	Ruby in Fuchsite aka Ruby Apatite Fuchsite is a variety of muscovite (a type of mica) that is naturally colored various shades of green by chromium, and whose flaky crystalline structure reflects light in a display known as "aventuresence" (see aventurine). Ruby in fuchsite contrasts the rich red and pink shades of ruby against this sparkly green background, and sometimes features inclusions of blue kyanite. Sometimes its sheen looks similar to golden pyrite. Its reported metaphysical properties combine fuschite's ability to improve social interactions with the devotional properties of ruby, creating a stone that assists in all areas of love and romance. This unique "rock containing ruby" is found in India and the U.S.A.
	Ruby Zoisite (-126) aka Anyolite, Ruby-in-Zoisite Ruby zoisite is a unique metamorphic gem. It features a striking contrast between the bright green zoisite (calcium aluminum silicate hydroxide) with inclusions of dark hornblende (a basic silicate mineral) and the often-chatoyant red ruby. Zoisite itself is named for mineral collector Siegmund von Zois, the baron von Edelstein (1747-1819), who discovered the gemstone in 1804 in Austria. It is rather soft and scratches easily. Ruby zoisite is believed to help increase the awareness of the super-ego. It also is said to help amplify the whole energy field of a person, reaching within to release inner talents of the mind. Ruby zoisite occurs in a few small outcrops south of the town of Longido in Tanzania's northern province, about 50 miles northwest of Mount Kilimanjaro. It also is found in Norway, Western Australia and the U.S.A.
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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