Lepidolite, Light, Natural, Smooth Round, One 8mm Strand

Lepidolite, Natural, Smooth Round, 8mm. This price is for one strand 15 to 16 inches long. 

8mm strands have 43 to 48 beads.

Lepidolite belongs to the mica group of materials, specifically it is lithium, aluminum-rich mica. Since lepidolite is a mica material, it is not defined as stone.  Lepidolite is found naturally in a variety of colors, mainly pink, purple, and red, but also gray and, rarely, yellow, and colorless.

Found most in Brazil, Russia; California, United States, Canada; and Madagascar. Lepidolite was first discovered in the 18th century when it was named for its lavender color. However, it was later named "lepidolite" by scientists, from the Greek word for “scale", referring to its scaly appearance caused by flakes of lithium.

Hardness 3-4

This is a natural stone that has had no treatment other than cutting, drilling, and polishing.

The source of these beads is South Africa and they are cut, drilled and polished in China.