Ocean Jasper Freeform Bead Strands (16 inch strand)
These long flat beads measure approximately 10x27mm by 2-3mm thick, size does vary.
Ocean Jasper seems readily available, but the truth is that it is not mined anymore and the premium material is harder to find.
Ocean Jasper is a trademarked name for a multicolored stone from Madagascar, typically with spherical patterning. Although commonly described as an orbicular jasper, the most recent research suggests it is the mineral chalcedony instead. Some pieces have agate banding or druses of clear quartz, a coating of tiny crystals, known more commonly as “druzy”.
The variety of quartz known as chalcedony is often unfamiliar to people. It is actually the mother stone of many semiprecious gems: banded chalcedony is better known as agate, red as carnelian, and black as onyx, etc. Its capacity to transmit light is a characteristic of chalcedony. By definition jasper is not translucent, unless cut extremely thin.
Although chalcedony (chal•ce•do•ny) is more technically pronounced “kal-seh-duh-knee”, it is more commonly said like “kal-suh-dough-knee”.
