Editing Bead (section)

=== Natural materials ===
Beads are still made from many naturally occurring materials, both organic (i.e., of [[animal]]- or [[plant]]-based origin) and inorganic (purely [[mineral]] origin). However, some of these materials now routinely undergo some extra processing beyond mere shaping and drilling such as color enhancement via [[dyes]] or irradiation.

The natural organics include [[bone]], [[Coral (precious)|coral]], [[Horn (anatomy)|horn]], [[ivory]], [[seed]]s (such as [[tagua]] nuts), [[Exoskeleton|animal shell]]s, and [[wood]]. For most of human history, [[pearl]]s were the ultimate precious beads of natural origin because of their rarity; the modern [[Cultured pearl|pearl-culturing process]] has made them far more common. [[Amber]] and [[Jet (lignite)|jet]] are also of natural organic origin although both are the result of partial [[fossil]]ization.

The natural inorganics include various types of [[stones]], ranging from [[gemstone]]s to common [[mineral]]s, and [[metal]]s. Of the latter, only a few [[precious metal]]s occur in pure forms, but other purified [[base metal]]s may as well be placed in this category along with certain naturally occurring alloys such as [[electrum]].