One of Mother Nature’s greatest imitators.
Howlite is famed for imitating other minerals, such as Turquoise. It is naturally white or grey, but due to the porous texture of the stone can very easily be dyed a Turquoise blue.
It forms in nodules that look like cauliflower heads displaying black veins throughout the gemstone, and although this mineral is not very hard it has a distinct toughness.
In its natural state, its soft, grey marble effect makes it ideal for setting as beaded necklaces or bracelets.
Its porous property makes it easy to dye, and many modern designers are producing Howlite designs featuring dyed Howlite – often emulating Turquoise.
It is said that Howlite can eliminate anger and offensive behaviour. Healers consider it an important gemstone to cleanse auras and purify the blood.
Howlite was discovered near Windsor, Nova Scotia in Canada in the late 1680s when gypsum miners came across it. As it was tougher than gypsum it was causing them problems slowing down their mining and they called in a local geologist named Henry How to help them. The gemstone was later named in his honour.
