| Original Message: Re: Greenstone Beads |
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Hi Thomas, I would guess that you are showing a conglomeration of several things. I see beads that I suspect are most likely new, as well as some that are probably old (though no one really knows how old). The materials are most likely serpentine, quartz (green aventurine and/or something similar, perhaps without the mica), and chrysoprase (another quart family mineral). These last would be the bright green beads. I would be inclined to guess these are not old, and may not even be from this region. I'd have to suspect they might be Chinese material. These beads are NOT "from the African trade." That's a phrase that ought to be reserved for imported beads that come to us from Africa. These are "native-made" beads. Of course, if new beads get mixed with old, and foreign with local, it can be a problem to sort out these issues. But the new foreign beads are still not "trade beads," nor "from the trade." Be well. Jamey All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users |
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