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.