Golden points of light formed by pyrite fill these lapis lazuli 8x10mm tumble nugget beads from Dakota Stones. Available in 8-inch strands, these cub-shaped beads with rounded edges feature intense streaks of blue color flecked with golden sparkles. Lapis lazuli is a semi-precious stone that contains primarily lazurite, calcite and pyrite. It was among the first gemstones to be worn as jewelry and worked on. Mined in Afghanistan and the San Gabriel mountains in California, lapis lazuli is listed as the gemstone traditionally associated with the month of December and is also used as an alternative birthstone for September. Dakota Stones offers high-quality gemstones that are useable in jewelry because every bead is checked to make sure they are cut and drilled correctly, that the finish is right and that the beads look distinct to their stone type.