Phosphosiderite, Purple, Dyed, One 8mm Strand

Phosphosiderite, Purple, Dyed, One 8mm Strand.
This price is for one strand 15 to 16 inches long.

8mm strands have about 50 pieces.

Phosphosiderite is a somewhat rare mineral named for its main components, phosphate and iron. The siderite at the end of Phosphosiderite comes from "sideros", the Greek word for iron. It was discovered in 1890.

Phosphosiderite is a fascinating, rare gemstone that is often found in a bright orchid-purple tint. The other color variants are rose red, brown-reddish yellow, mossy green, and darker hues of purple.

Phosphosiderite can be found in small amounts at many localities including Germany, France, Portugal, Sweden, Liberia, South Africa, Brazil, Mozambique, the United States including here in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina.

Hardness 3.5-4 

These beads are dyed with the introduction of coloring agent into a gemstone to give it new color, intensify present color or improve color uniformity. 

These beads are cut, drilled, and polished in China.