Howlite

Item Description

The Lang Mine in Los Angeles County is well known for the uncommon calcium borosilicate, Howlite. The piece typically forms as massive nodules, but look beautiful when polished. This "Pear" cabochon cut stone has been polished to show beautiful porcelaneous luster and the stark white color with the notable grey "veins". Classic material! PLEASE NOTE: Because Howlite is fairly porous, it can be easily dyed to imitate other species. Due to the notable veining, makes a fairly convincing simulant for Turquoise when dyed blue. It's easy to distinguish as Howlite is softer than Turquoise (3.5 vs. 5-6), but beware that this material does exist. Howlite has also been dyed a deep blue to imitate Lapis, or even orange-red in an attempt to pass it off as coral. Gems of Howlite should be sold in the natural state (WHITE), but have appeared on the market under the misleading trade names of "white turquoise" or "white buffalo turquoise". The species has no relation to Turquoise whatsoever, and would be considered less common than Turquoise on a worldwide scale.