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Gemstone of the Month: HowliteHowlite was first discovered in Nova Scotia in 1868 by Canadian mineralogist, Henry How. It is most commonly found in Canada and the U.S., but it has also been found in Mexico, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Namibia. It’s raw form grows in cauliflower-like masses. Natural Howlite is an opaque white with grey veining, similar to the beautiful white & gray marble counter tops everyone wants in their kitchens right now. It has often been dyed in an attempt …

Gemstone of the Month: LarvikiteOne of the gemstones we have been asked about most recently is the stunning Larvikite. Everyone wants to know what this mysterious, beautiful gemstone is about. Larvikite is a monzonitic feldspar from the feldspar family. The Larvakite we carry is a dark grey with black inclusions, but it can also be dark blue.It is often confused with Labradorite or called Black Moonstone, although it is neither. It is commonly confused with other stones because it contains the l …

Gemstone of the Month: CavansiteLast up in our most recent series of noteworthy gemstones at Bead World is Cavansite. Cavansite is an uncommon, small gemstone. It is often found in a matrix with other gemstones, typically white stilbite. Between its size, rarity, and a Mohs hardness of 3-4, cavansite is almost impossible to cut into gemstones on its own. At Bead World, we have a few stunning pendants that feature cavansite though (like the ones shown above). Cavansite is a beautiful blue to gree …