Click picture to see larger image:

Item no.:

S026

Bead material:

hematite (iron)

Country of origin:

China

Size/shape:

16mm long ovals with ridges.

Colors/description:

Metallic dark gray.

Defects:

The beads appear to be in good shape.

How photographed:

At the window in natural daylight.

Comments:

Hematite is iron oxide.  In some forms it is red, but this hematite is just iron-colored.  Actually, it looks like dark steel.  Please note that solid metal beads like this are heavier than glass.  The jaggedness that you see on the curves of the beads in the picture is an unfortunate byproduct of digital photography.