Most gemstone skull beads on the market are molded, so hematine and reconstituted (block) magnesite are the most popular stone materials you'll find. Hematine is man-made hematite. Chemically, it's nearly identical to natural hematite. Like mined hematite, it's heavy and metallic, but manmade hematine can be molded into complex shapes. And since it doesn't have any impurities, it can be electroplated with intense, durable coatings! Magnesite is lighter, so if you're looking for large, colorful skull beads, magnesite is an excellent choice. Magnesite is naturally a chalky, porous stone, so you'll often find magnesite dyed to match fashion colors of the year, with creative "new gemstone" names. Do your research -- vividly-colored lightweight gemstones or cheap turquoise are often dyed magnesite. To mold it into complex shapes, first it's crushed, then mixed with colored binders (resins) and pressed into molds.
