| e is an encompassing word used to describe a | | | | "agate." When it is in flat layers/bands it is called |
| wide variety of minerals used for beaded jewelry | | | | by the subvariety name "onyx." It comes in most |
| and adornment. Gemstones can be classified as | | | | colors and there are several types of Agate. |
| either precious or semi-precious. Gemstone beads | | | | Common ones are: blue lace agate, moss agate, |
| are often treated to enhance durability and/or | | | | tree agate and petrified wood. |
| color. | | | | Malachite Beads are a beautiful green earth color |
| Semi Precious Gemstone Beads come in a variety | | | | with black bands. |
| of sizes and shapes. They are usually polished and | | | | Quartz (Rock Crystal) Beads are made from the |
| faceted, donut-shaped, rough-cut or chips. They | | | | the most common gem variety of quartz crystal. |
| can be very expensive depending on the stone or | | | | Like all quartz, it is formed from the two most |
| the size, and yet chips are ready drilled and | | | | abundant elements in the earth's crust: silicon and |
| inexpensive. | | | | oxygen. Quartz is colorless and transparent. It is |
| There are different qualities of semi precious | | | | also known as "Rock Crystal". Other colors of |
| gemstones and color can vary enormously. | | | | quartz have special names such as: Rose Quartz |
| Following are some examples of popular | | | | (pink or peach), Citrine (yellow or lemon), and |
| gemstones: | | | | Amethyst (purple or mauve). It is popular for its |
| Turquoise is a semi precious gemstone. Turquoise, | | | | healing qualities. |
| which has captivated man's imagination for | | | | Opal Beads are usually white, clear, pale red or |
| centuries. It's color ranges from sky blue to green | | | | black, and emit brilliant flashes of multi-colored light. |
| and is a vibrant light blue stone often seen in | | | | Opal is related to its more commonly found but |
| southwestern jewelry. It is reasonably priced and | | | | highly crystalline cousins quartz and agate, and is |
| ethnically Middle Eastern. | | | | formed from amorphous "balls" or lumps" of silica |
| Amethyst Beads are made from purple, lilac and | | | | rather that from ordered, naturally faceted |
| mauve quartz. The highest quality is transparent. | | | | crystals. The most striking quality of opal is its |
| Amethyst is an affordable purple gemstone. | | | | ability to refract and reflect specific wavelengths |
| Agate Beads are made from Agate stone. Agate | | | | of light. In fact, the term "opalescence" was |
| is a distinctly banded variety of Chalcedony, which | | | | coined to describe this phenomenon. The interplay |
| is a variety of Quartz gemstones composed of | | | | of these pure wavelengths of light gives opal its |
| layers of quartz, sometimes of different colors. | | | | unique visual appeal, and makes it one of the |
| When it is concentrically banded (often in rather | | | | most sought-after gemstone beads in the world. |
| wild patterns) it is called by the subvaritey name | | | | |