Green Turquoise gemstone beads

For most of time, blue turquoise varieties were considered most desirable, while green turquoise was thought to be inferior. It was believed by the ancients that blue turquoise did not lose color over time, and that stones with lesser blues would eventually fade to green. However, history has shown that this is not the case. Since recent times, the demand for green turquoise gemstone beads has increased. In fact, there are several green turquoise varieties that are now considered to be some of the top ranked turquoise available today, including many of Nevada's turquoise and also China's 'Skyhorse' and 'China Mountain' varieties.

Turquoise is colored by traces of copper, the same element responsible for the green-blue color of Paraiba tourmaline. Its greens can range from shades of bluish-green to apple-green or lime-green. Generally, if turquoise forms with less copper and more aluminum, the material tends to be green. But when zinc is also present, it can result a rare lime-green color; a rare hue found only in a few areas, including Mongolia and the United States. Much of the green turquoise from the USA gets its color from iron, rather than aluminum; if iron or zinc replaces the aluminum entirely, the material becomes iron-rich chalcosiderite or zinc-rich faustite. Veining is normal for green turquoise and matrix colors can vary from brown to black, and even from golden to yellow. Black matrix is usually owed to iron pyrite, while brown is usually caused by iron oxide. Golden colors may be due to rhyolite matrix.

Green turquoise is indeed a rarity, but it can be found in a few areas around the world. Mongolia and Egypt's turquoise deposits are known to occur more green than blue. Mines from India are also known to produce green turquoise. China has some very desirable deposits, but much of China's turquoise is often enhanced. The United States is today's leading producer of green turquoise. 

Sphene stone beads

Sphene is one of the very few gemstones known for having a higher dispersion rating than fine diamond. A high dispersion rating results in remarkable fire, brilliance and scintillation. The attractive green color of sphene is often accompanied by golden tones. Sphene stone beads is available in reasonably large sizes, often weighing 5 carats or more. It is sometimes traded as 'titanite', a name derived from its titanium content. Sphene is also strongly pleochroic, which means that typically at least 3 colors can be seen in a single specimen depending on the angle from which it is viewed. Sphene is rather soft (5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale), so its use in jewelry should be limited to pendants, earrings or brooches.

Peridot semi precious gemstone beads

Peridot is one of the few gemstones available in only one color - green. However, peridot's unique green color can range from vivid and intense shades of yellowish-green to dark brownish-green. Peridot belongs to the olivine series of minerals and is a magnesium-rich gemstone-quality variety of forsterite. Peridot is a rare example of an idiochromatic gemstone. Idiochromatic gemstones are unique in that their color comes from their basic chemical composition, rather than through traces of minor impurities such as iron or chromium. Interestingly, green peridot is one of the oldest known gemstones with records dating back as early as 1500 BC. Peridot's hardness is comparable to quartz and it is generally affordable. It is also often available in reasonably large sizes, making it a wonderful green semi precious gemstone beads choice for jewelry design.

Idocrase natural gemstone beads

Idocrase is not only rare, but transparent facetable material is extremely rare. As a mineral, idocrase is typically referred to as vesuvianite, whilst the gemstone is traded under the name idocrase. Although it is mostly found in shades of green, it can also be found in rarer colors such as pale-blue or yellowish-brown. Most idocrase gemstones today are opaque and appear similar to jade. Opaque idocrase has a greasy luster, while fine, transparent idocrase has a vitreous luster. With a hardness that is slightly less than quartz, idocrase is suitable for most natural gemstone beads jewelry designs and its green color is quite distinctive.

Chrysoprase gemstone beads

Chrysoprase is one of the rarest gemstone varieties of chalcedony quartz. Chrysoprase is available in many shades of green, ranging from light, mint-green to deep apple-green. Most green gemstones are colored by chromium or iron, but this rare form of cryptocrystalline quartz is colored by nickel impurities. Until the introduction of another rare green-blue chalcedony known as 'gem silica' or 'chrysocolla chalcedony', chrysoprase was considered the most valuable of all quartz gemstones beads. Some of the finest specimens are said to come from Central Queensland, Australia. Fine Australian chrysoprase can possess a translucency, luster and vivid green color reminiscent of fine quality jade.

Amazonite semi precious gemstone beads

Amazonite is known as the 'Amazon stone' and was named after South America's Amazon River, which flows through the heart of Brazil. It is a green semi precious gemstone variety of microcline, one of the semi precious gemstone varieties of feldspar. Amazonite is famed for its striking jade-like color and luster. Most amazonite semi precious gemstones are mottled, with uneven color distribution. Its green to light bluish-green color is owed to traces of iron. Fine top-quality amazonite can easily be mistaken for precious jade. As a variety of feldspar, amazonite semi precious gemstone beads is reasonably hard and is considered durable enough for most jewelry applications. Amazonite looks best when set into silver or white gold jewelry mountings. Amazonite semi precious gemstone with a high saturation of color, interesting patterns and evenly distributed color are considered the most desirable. Amazonite jewelry is extremely popular in South American countries. 

Natural Carnelian precious gemstone beads

Carnelian is a brownish-red to red-orange variety of chalcedony. The distinctive red-orange color of carnelian is a result of trace amounts of iron. Sometimes the name 'sard' is used to refer to the darker colors of carnelian, though there is no clear distinction between carnelian and sard.

Carnelian is one of the oldest known gemstones. It was widely used in ancient Rome to make insignia and seals for imprinting on letters or important documents because hot wax does not stick to carnelian. It also is one of the birthstones listed in the ancient Arabic, Hebrew and Roman tables, and is a birthstone for the zodiacal sign of Virgo.

Today, carnelian is used for cabochons and precious gemstones beads. It is also carved to produce cameos, intaglios and other sculptures. The most important carnelian deposits are found in Brazil, Uruguay, India and Madagascar.

Many carnelian gemstones beads being offered for sale on the market today are actually agate precious gemstones beads that have been dyed and then heat-treated. But there is a way to identify natural carnelian. The dyed agate will display striping when held against the light, while the natural carnelian will show a cloudy distribution of color. Natural carnelian is becoming increasingly rare.

Carnelian was used as a talisman by people dating back as early as the ancient Babylonians and Greeks. Many Muslims believe that carnelian brings peace and happiness to its owner. This belief is attributed to the fact that Mohammed wore a ring set with a carnelian seal. Emperor Napoleon jealously guarded a carnelian seal that he found in an Egyptian campaign and often wore as a watch charm.