Beads
Where does Oltu stone come from?
The black stone of Erzurum: how it forms and why people love it.
Oltu stone takes its name from the Oltu district of Erzurum. It is a black, light stone formed from fossilised wood.
Fresh from the mine it is soft, and it hardens as it meets the air. That is why craftsmen work it soon after it is extracted.
The way it warms in the hand and grows more lustrous with use is the main reason bead makers love Oltu.
