Howlite is a white semiprecious stone material with dark gray veins.

It makes lovely designer cabochons.

Howlite is a calcium borosilicate hydroxide.

Howlite is found in massive "cauliflower" shaped nodules. Named for its discoverer Henry How, a Nova Scotia geologist who discovered it in 1868.

Howlite is one of those gemstones that is more famous for imitating another gemstone. Often the other gemstone is turquoise because, though Howlite is always white or gray, it can accept dyes fairly easily and is often dyed sky blue.

Howlite semiprecious stone cabochons are sometimes sold as White Turquoise or White Buffalo.

Our Howlite designer cabochons are from Tick Canyon in Los Angeles County, California. This mine stopped being worked for borax in the early 1900's and the material is waste product from the mine. It was collected off the dumps for many years, but the area has since been closed by housing developments.

Howlite cabochons are fairly soft, about a 2.5 to 3.5. These jewelry stones do not have a high gloss polish, but they still take a great polish and look like porcelain.