mineral

Magnesite or Howlite (dyed or naturally patterned)

Magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) or Calcium borosilicate hydroxide (Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5)

Hardness 3.5-4.5 (Mohs scale), white base color with brown/red/grey webbing or matrix, dull to vitreous luster, porous texture making it easy to dye.

Identified June 17, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness 3.5-4.5 (Mohs scale), white base color with brown/red/grey webbing or matrix, dull to vitreous luster, porous texture making it easy to dye.

Formed as an alteration product in magnesium-rich rocks or sedimentary deposits (magnesite), or in evaporite deposits (howlite).

Often used in inexpensive jewelry as beads or cabochons. Frequently naturally webbed or dyed to imitate turquoise (when dyed blue).

Due to its porous nature, it is one of the most common stones used for dyeing to imitate other more expensive stones.

Can be identified by its relatively low hardness, white base color, and distinctive matrixing. Often found in jewelry supply stores.

Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

Schist

Epidote

Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)

Nephrite Jade

Nephrite

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)

Green Apatite on Albite

Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]