Category: Bead Types

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What is Howlite?

howlite beads

Howlite was discovered near Windsor, Nova Scotia, in 1868 by Henry How (1828–1879), a Canadian chemist, geologist, and mineralogist. How was alerted to the unknown mineral by miners in a gypsum quarry, who found it to be a nuisance. He called the new mineral silico-boro-calcite; it was given the name howlite by the American geologist James Dwight Dana shortly thereafter.

Howlite Stone
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Howlite is commonly used to make decorative objects such as small carvings or jewelry components. Because of its porous texture, howlite can be easily dyed to imitate other minerals, especially turquoise because of the superficial similarity of the veining patterns. Howlite is also sold in its natural state, sometimes under the trade names of “white turquoise” or “white buffalo turquoise,” or the derived name “white buffalo stone” and is used to produce jewelry similar to how turquoise is used. Varieties of the unrelated gemstone turquoise which are white instead of the typical blue or green color have been mined in the US States of Arizona and Nevada, and are also marketed as “white buffalo turquoise”. Most of the white varieties of turquoise are chalk-like with a Mohs hardness of 1, and are not as hard or durable as howlite, and subsequently require stabilization in order to be used in jewelry, which has resulted in howlite being more popular for use in jewelry than the artificially stabilized white forms of the mineral turquoise. [1]

Howlite is always opaque in nodules; it is an abundant material and easy to acquire. Sometimes it contains black, threadlike impurities resembling the veining in turquoise. Howlite is frequently dyed blue to resemble turquoise, and it makes a most convincing simulant. The white material is relatively unexciting in appearance. [3]

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Sources

[1] Wikipedia
[2] Photo by Freepik
[3] International Gem Society

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What is Jasper?

Jasper Stone

Jasper is an opaque, solid or patterned variety of cryptocrystalline quartz which consists of very tiny quartz crystals colored by various mineral impurities. The names of various jaspers can come from their color: bloodstone, green, lemon; from their pattern: orbicular, poppy, leopardskin, landscape, Picasso; or from a place name: Morrisonite, Mookite. All types take an excellent polish, are trouble free to care for, and hardy enough for all jewelry uses. These stones are usually cabbed, sometimes carved, and seldom faceted. Jewelry use of jaspers goes back into the early history of civilization. Various forms of this material are also frequently made into decorative objects, such as ashtrays or bookends. Jaspers are found all over the world, with certain colors or patterns unique to particular locales. Most bloodstone comes from India, all Mookaite from Australia. [1]

Jaspers, in general, are very common; hence most of the value in a given piece relates to the saturation of its color, the beauty of its pattern or the artistry with which it is fashioned. Some types such as Imperial Jasper and Madagascar Jasper do command premium prices since they are relatively rare. In rock shops, pieces of commercial quality cut in simple shapes might be had for $5 or less. Fine material, cut in designer forms, generally ranges between $2 and $5 per carat. [1]

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Sources

[1] International Gem Society
[2} Images by freepik

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What is Sodalite?

Sodalite

Typically blue, durable, and easy to cut, sodalite is highly desired by hobbyists. Even stones that lack transparency make lovely faceted gems.

The gemstone know as sodalite belongs to the sodalite mineral group, which includes haüyne, lazurite, and nosean. All typically blue, these minerals are actually found in lapis lazuli. That is, lapis is a rock made up principally of these materials. However, sodalite and haüyne can also occur separately and even have their own varieties.

Hackmanite, a sulfur-rich variety of sodalite, shows tenebrescence. When first mined, stones from Canada and Greenland can range from pink to violet. In sunlight, however, they fade to grayish white or white. On the other hand, hackmanites from Afghanistan and Myanmar start white but turn pink or violet in sunlight. Darkness will reverse these effects.

Although both sodalite and lapis can have inclusions of calcite, you can distinguish them by sodalite’s lack of pyrite inclusions. [1}

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Laboratories have synthesized sodalites, but the natural gems aren’t rare, so no real market for them exists. However, sodalites, either natural or synthetic, can simulate other blue gems, such as lapis lazuli. Since lapis lazuli is a better known material, it’s more likely you’ll encounter sodalites offered as lapis gems, either in error or a deliberate effort to mislead.

Other popular blue gem materials, like azurite, lazulite (no relation to lazurite), and turquoise, typically show different shades of blue than sodalite. However, if the colors seem close, these stones react differently to ultraviolet testing.

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Hackmanite

Hackmanite from Dungannon Township, Ontario, Canada will luminesce bright pale pink in shortwave (SW) ultraviolet light. In longwave (LW), it luminesces bright yellow-orange. Stones may turn raspberry red after exposure to SW.

When cut, sodalite may release a hydrogen sulfide (H2S), “rotten egg,” smell due to traces of water and sulfur.

How to Care for Sodalite Jewelry

Sodalites are tough but scratch easily due to their relatively low hardness (5.5-6). Other popular jewelry stones, like quartz and topaz, will scratch them. (So will household dust, over time, with its hardness of 7-7.5). Store any sodalite jewelry separately from other pieces to avoid contact scratches. Use protective settings for ring wear. Necklace and earring use should pose fewer risks. Clean these gems only with a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water. Consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.

Sources

[1} International Gem Society
{2} Image by Rafe Whysall from Pixabay
[3] Nature Stock photos by Vecteezy