Howlite is a popular mineral used in jewelry and decorative objects for its appealing appearance. This stone, with its distinctive patterns, frequently finds itself imitated or misrepresented in the market. Understanding the genuine properties of howlite and the common characteristics of its counterfeits can help in identifying authentic pieces. This guide helps recognize real howlite amidst imitations.
Characteristics of Genuine Howlite
Natural howlite is a white to off-white or light gray stone. It features distinctive gray to black veining patterns that resemble a spiderweb across its surface. These natural veins are never perfectly uniform or symmetrical, showing variations in thickness and distribution. While howlite is predominantly white with dark veins, pure white specimens exist but are quite rare.
Howlite has a porous texture, appearing matte or slightly chalky even when polished. Genuine howlite feels cool to the touch, warming slowly with body heat. The mineral is relatively soft, scoring between 3 and 3.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which places it between calcite and fluorite. Its softness means it can be scratched by harder materials. Howlite usually forms in irregular nodules, sometimes resembling cauliflower heads, rather than distinct crystals.
Identifying Common Imitations
Materials often imitate howlite, or howlite is dyed to mimic more expensive gemstones like turquoise. Dyed magnesite is a common imitation, chemically different but sharing howlite’s soft, porous nature and dye absorption. Undyed magnesite can closely resemble howlite, but when dyed, it may show unnatural color consistency or dye pooling in crevices, unlike the natural variations in howlite’s veining.
Plastic or resin imitations often appear too uniform in color or overly shiny, lacking howlite’s natural variations and depth. These synthetic materials feel warmer and are lighter than real howlite due to their lower density. Glass imitations might be too heavy or appear perfectly smooth, sometimes even containing small air bubbles not found in natural stone. Reconstituted howlite, made from ground powder with epoxy, also lacks natural veining and has a uniform appearance.
Hands-On Verification Methods
A temperature test offers an initial clue: genuine howlite feels cool and warms gradually, while plastic imitations quickly adapt to body temperature. Observing the veining closely is useful; natural howlite displays irregular, web-like patterns that vary in thickness and distribution, often continuing beneath the surface. In contrast, painted or molded patterns on fakes may appear too consistent or only surface-deep.
A scratch test reveals howlite’s softness. Using a fingernail or soft metal on an inconspicuous area shows if the material yields to a scratch, indicating a Mohs hardness of around 3.5. Another method uses a cotton swab with acetone (nail polish remover) on a hidden spot; if dyed, color may transfer onto the swab, as howlite’s porous nature makes it highly absorptive of dyes. Lastly, a weight check: plastic imitations feel lighter than a natural stone of comparable size due to their lower density.