African Turquoise Gemstone Beads, Round, 8mm (strand)

African turquoise is a descriptive name: it is not true turquoise, but actually a jasper found in Africa. These semiprecious beads have a matrix structure similar to that of turquoise, and are light bluish-green in color.

The matrix in African turquoise is usually dark or black, and African turquoise beads provide a good substitute for genuine turquoise beads. As with many semiprecious gemstones, identifying a stone accurately can be tricky!

African turquoise looks very similar to variquoise, a unique combination of variscite and turquoise found in Utah and Nevada.

See Related Products links (below) for similar items and additional jewelry-making supplies that are often used with this item.