Howlite is a porous mineral that can be dyed to mimic other stones. In its natural form, it resembles marble. Grey veins of texture run through the white stones. It has often been referred to as 'white turquoise' or 'white buffalo stone', a nod to its similiarity in appearance to turqoise. This mineral was discovered by and named after Canadian Henry How in 1868, making it a relatively modern discovery. These chipped stones vary in size and are primarily white, marbled with veins in grays and browns.
Semi-precious stone beads are mined all over the world and then are usually cut in China. They will often be dyed or color-treated to enhance their appearance. We select the best quality semi-precious that is available, and try to avoid finishes that are not durable. It is best to assume that some semi-precious beads will fade over time.