Sapphire, Matte Finish, Pretty Blue-Grey Nuggets, One 6x6mm Strand

Sapphire, Natural, Small Chunks, Matte Finish, Pretty Blue-Grey. 

The price is for one strand with approximately 52 pieces with average size of 6x6mm.

Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminum oxide with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, vanadium, or magnesium. It is typically blue, but natural "fancy" sapphires also occur in yellow, purple, orange, and green colors. Red corundum stones are called rubies and is generally caused by traces of chromium.  

Significant sapphire deposits are found in Australia, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United States (Montana) and Vietnam.

Sapphire is the state gemstone of Montana.

Hardness 9

The source of these beads is South Africa and they are cut, drilled and polished in China.

This is a natural stone that has had no treatment other than cutting, drilling, and polishing and the matte treatment mentioned here. 

Matte beads have a velvety or frosted surface, rather than a shiny or reflective surface. These stones undergo additional tumbling that require knowledge of the material and skill. Each stone type requires a different amount of time in the tumbler depending on the material's hardness and characteristics. The matte finish also creates a variation in color from the traditional finish of the bead.