RARE AAA+ Cuerleite (Chile) Rondelle Beads 4.5-5mm, 14 Beads
Cuerleite is an extremely rare, vivid sky-blue to azure arsenate mineral. Named after the Latin word caeruleus (meaning "sky-blue" or "heavenly"), it is highly sought after by mineral collectors and lapidary artists due to its striking, rich color. Known for its brilliant, intense cerulean or pastel blue hues. It rarely forms distinct individual crystals; instead, it usually occurs as compact, porcelain-like clay masses, microcrystalline crusts, or radiating fibrous aggregates. Ranks 5 to 6 on the Mohs hardness scale. This makes it relatively fragile compared to mainstream gemstones, meaning it requires gentle care to avoid scratches.
It is exceptionally scarce. It is primarily found in the oxidized zones of arsenic-rich copper deposits. The world's premier source for collector-quality specimens is the Emma Luisa Mine in the Guanaco mining district of Chile. Smaller, minor deposits have also been found in Cornwall (England), France, Australia, and the United States. [1, 2,
