I have obtained some very pretty, translucent beads which are
raspberry red, and are called ‘rubylite’. Does anyone have any
about this stone? The closest I have come to it is
rubelite, which I believe is a type of tourmaline. I wondered whether
’rubylite’ is just a mis-spelling (you’d be surprised how often I see
fluorite described as flourite), as the colour is similar to some
rubies, and spelled this way would be a more attractive name with the
connatations of an association with a precious gemstone. Thanks Pat
I would suspect this is another attempt to defraud the consumer with
a tricky name to make the consumer think it’s something it isn’t. If
they are rubellite, they should be quite expensive --??
Margaret
@Margaret_Malm2,
in Utah’s colorful Dixie
I have obtained some very pretty, translucent beads which are raspberry red, and are called 'rubylite'.
Hi Pat, I’m sure you’ll get a lot more accurate answers than the one
I’m about to provide, but when I came across and purchased some of
these a few months ago I was told they are a heat-treated quartz.
I’ll be interested to see what the wise rockhounds on this list have
to say. 
Carrie
Wired Contemporary Jewelry
http://www.wiredjewelry.com
Pat - It sounds as if you may have gotten some of the glass which
was discussed earlier this year, which is also being marketed as a
variety of quartz. If you don’t have direct access to a good
binocular microscope then use the highest power loupe you have
available: examine the stones for small bubbles or flow lines, which
as dead giveaways that you have glass. I’m sure other members will
have other hints.
Jim Small
Small Wonders Lapidary
About a year ago, I purchased some beads named “rubylite.” When I
asked what rubylite was, I was met with a blank stare and the answer
that it was “a type of stone.” Duh!
Anyway, I bought them because I liked their look and decided to find
out if they were dyed. (I dipped the beads in warm water.) Yup -
dyed. Closer inspection indicated to me that they were probably
quartz of some kind. A little research, and I was convinced that
they were dyed agate. However, I think the name is just a “trade
name” not anything scientific.
In the bead world, the element of science seems to be missed
entirely. It’s simply a matter of taste, because quality is a realm
of the “rich and famous” who buy the calibrated gem stones and
scientific terminology is only required by the lapidary. (I do beg
to differ with this mentality.)
So. . . shall we now discuss the term “gem?” I believe there are
some FTC guidelines that apply to that term. So, I’m wondering if I
now need to change my company name to comply with the guidelines?
Susan
Sun Country Gems
www.suncountrygems.com
Pat, As I know it Rubylite is the name some folks call the pink
shade of Watermelon Tourmaline. I love those, such a gorgeous
color!
Vera B.
Dear Pat:
I bought some of this material back in the old beadin’ days. It is a
dyed stone, of a translucency and texture similar to marble. I’m not
a lapidary; I don’t know what it was mineralogically. The color was
more intense at the drill-holes, surface cracks, and wherever the
material looked more porous.
Be advised that it will fade with prolonged exposure to sunlight!
This to me was proof positive it was dyed. I also broke a bead to
see, and it was lighter inside. It may very well rub off on
clothing, too. When I found my earrings faded on the rack, I gave
the rest of what I had to kids, warning them, of course.
It was very inexpensive, as I recall, and very pretty. (Pretty,
but…)
Lin Lahlum
Reading the posts on this, it seems you were misled by only one
"letter"-- they should have said “ruby-Lite”.
Noel