Gem Profile- Patterned Jaspers
This article is one of a five-part series on Jasper. Here is a complete list of our Jasper articles: What is Jasper?, Bloodstone, Picture Jasper, Patterned Jasper, Beautifully Colored Jasper.
Learning more about the different types of jasper that are used most often by wire jewelry artists, we now look at those that are named for living organisms.
Learning more about the different types of jasper that are used most often by wire jewelry artists, we now look at those that are named for living organisms.
Familiar jaspers like Dalmatian and Leopardskin have been around for years.
Researching this required serious hunting to learn the long list of "new" jasper pattern names.
Older names make total sense. Recent ones often shake the head at marketing tricks to sell product.
Vendors now call unknown bead stones "jasper" and invent appealing names based on looks.
Researching this required serious hunting to learn the long list of "new" jasper pattern names.
Older names make total sense. Recent ones often shake the head at marketing tricks to sell product.
Vendors now call unknown bead stones "jasper" and invent appealing names based on looks.
Orbicular Jasper forms when microcrystalline silica includes needle-like radial mineral crystals.
Ocean Jasper is the most popular variety.
A geologist shared this amazing tale years ago.
In the early 1900s, pieces appeared occasionally on Madagascar beaches and reached market.
The source stayed unknown. Searches failed.
A cartographer mapped the coastline.
His low-flying plane spotted unusual rock outcrops in the water at low tide.
On land, high tide hid them.
He hired a local fisherman with a boat.
At low tide, they chipped specimens to identify the rock.
Orbicular Jasper, often named "Eagle Eye," wrapped by Barbara Wolf
Ocean Jasper is the most popular variety.
A geologist shared this amazing tale years ago.
In the early 1900s, pieces appeared occasionally on Madagascar beaches and reached market.
The source stayed unknown. Searches failed.
A cartographer mapped the coastline.
His low-flying plane spotted unusual rock outcrops in the water at low tide.
On land, high tide hid them.
He hired a local fisherman with a boat.
At low tide, they chipped specimens to identify the rock.
Orbicular Jasper, often named "Eagle Eye," wrapped by Barbara Wolf
Two years ago at the Tucson gem shows, freeform cabochons caught my eye at John Bajoras's booth.
I pride myself on knowing rocks, but I'd never seen this material. It resembled agate with coloring almost like Ocean Jasper.
John laughed and praised my "good eye."
It was very old stock, some of the first Ocean Jasper from Madagascar.
I bought all he had and shared it with wired friends.
The material looks like agate. It's translucent with vugs of botryoidal crystals.
I pride myself on knowing rocks, but I'd never seen this material. It resembled agate with coloring almost like Ocean Jasper.
John laughed and praised my "good eye."
It was very old stock, some of the first Ocean Jasper from Madagascar.
I bought all he had and shared it with wired friends.
The material looks like agate. It's translucent with vugs of botryoidal crystals.
Freeform cabochons of original Ocean Jasper from Madagascar. Private collection, Dale Armstrong
Ocean Jasper cabochons cut by Charlie Armstrong showing vugs filled with quartz crystals.
Ocean Jasper cabochons cut by Charlie Armstrong showing vugs filled with quartz crystals.
Ocean Jasper is also called "Fish Eye" jasper and "Sea" jasper.
It shows shades of green, orange, and pink through brick red from hematite or iron, yellow from goethite, and white quartz.
Wire artists love this lovely stone.
Original mining on Madagascar's Ambolobozo Peninsula used only hand tools from boats at low tide. The country protects its coastline ecology.
The mine played out in 2006.
Today, real Ocean Jasper comes from stored material or beach finds by locals.
A selection of Ocean Jasper cabochons. Private collection, Dale Armstrong
It shows shades of green, orange, and pink through brick red from hematite or iron, yellow from goethite, and white quartz.
Wire artists love this lovely stone.
Original mining on Madagascar's Ambolobozo Peninsula used only hand tools from boats at low tide. The country protects its coastline ecology.
The mine played out in 2006.
Today, real Ocean Jasper comes from stored material or beach finds by locals.
A selection of Ocean Jasper cabochons. Private collection, Dale Armstrong
Ocean Jasper from other locations is not real ocean jasper.
It's another orbicular jasper resembling the original, like Rainforest Jasper from Australia.
This volcanic rock is spherical rhyolite with feldspars. Silicified, it qualifies as jasper.
A 7-pound chunk of Rainforest Jasper rough, similar to Ocean Jasper. Private collection, Dale Armstrong
Rainforest Jasper heart wrapped in brass and copper wire by Gina Smith.
It's another orbicular jasper resembling the original, like Rainforest Jasper from Australia.
This volcanic rock is spherical rhyolite with feldspars. Silicified, it qualifies as jasper.
A 7-pound chunk of Rainforest Jasper rough, similar to Ocean Jasper. Private collection, Dale Armstrong
Rainforest Jasper heart wrapped in brass and copper wire by Gina Smith.
Several other names that you may be familiar with, are also forms of orbicular jasper.
Poppy JasperPoppy Jasper is the name for this beautiful variety.
It is mainly found in Santa Rita County, California.
Also known as "flower" jasper, the best specimens show vivid poppy-like flowers on a brown matrix. Colors include yellow, red, green, and white.
Other locations include Australia, South Africa, and Oregon (USA).
Today, other flower names apply to orbicular and mottled jaspers, such as Rose and Chrysanthemum.
Poppy Jasper cut and wrapped in 21-gauge Argentium wire by Beverly Brown
Poppy JasperPoppy Jasper is the name for this beautiful variety.
It is mainly found in Santa Rita County, California.
Also known as "flower" jasper, the best specimens show vivid poppy-like flowers on a brown matrix. Colors include yellow, red, green, and white.
Other locations include Australia, South Africa, and Oregon (USA).
Today, other flower names apply to orbicular and mottled jaspers, such as Rose and Chrysanthemum.
Poppy Jasper cut and wrapped in 21-gauge Argentium wire by Beverly Brown
Leopardskin Jasper Leopardskin Jasper has spots resembling those on a wild cat.
Colors include black, yellow, brown, tan, grey, and whites.
It contains feldspar minerals, making it a type of rhyolite, like many in the "jasper" group.
Depending on spot placement and color, it's sometimes called "Eagle Eye."
No "hawk's eye" exists (reserved for a type of tiger-eye).
Leopardskin Jasper pendant wrapped by Joan Madouse
Leopardskin Jasper pendant and earrings wire wrapped by Judy Copeland
Leopardskin jasper cabochons cut by Charlie Armstrong, pendant wrapped by Dale Armstrong
Colors include black, yellow, brown, tan, grey, and whites.
It contains feldspar minerals, making it a type of rhyolite, like many in the "jasper" group.
Depending on spot placement and color, it's sometimes called "Eagle Eye."
No "hawk's eye" exists (reserved for a type of tiger-eye).
Leopardskin Jasper pendant wrapped by Joan Madouse
Leopardskin Jasper pendant and earrings wire wrapped by Judy Copeland
Leopardskin jasper cabochons cut by Charlie Armstrong, pendant wrapped by Dale Armstrong
Many animal and vegetable names sell jasper and rhyolite lapidary items today.
These include Tiger-skin, Zebra, Elephant-skin (aka Script stone), Spiderweb, and Snakeskin.
Each resembles the colors and patterns of the named living organism.
Carved Zebra Jasper Pendant from Becky Davis
These include Tiger-skin, Zebra, Elephant-skin (aka Script stone), Spiderweb, and Snakeskin.
Each resembles the colors and patterns of the named living organism.
Carved Zebra Jasper Pendant from Becky Davis
A few other names for patterned jasper are:
Paint Brush: Chinese Painting Jasper is used today for jaspers with a pale background.
They feature bright splashes and slashes of color.
The original name is "Indian Paint Rock" from Nevada. There, light brick-reds ("Indian" reds) pair with dendrite ferns, trees, and shrubbery.
Chinese Painting Jasper wrapped in Argentium Wire by Becky Davis
Paint Brush: Chinese Painting Jasper is used today for jaspers with a pale background.
They feature bright splashes and slashes of color.
The original name is "Indian Paint Rock" from Nevada. There, light brick-reds ("Indian" reds) pair with dendrite ferns, trees, and shrubbery.
Chinese Painting Jasper wrapped in Argentium Wire by Becky Davis
Rainbow: a "new" name for multi-colored jasper usually in hues of orange, browns, grey and black.
Parrot Wing:Parrot Wing Jasper is found in Mexico's Nayarit state.
This lovely jasper features greens and blues separated by fine lines resembling feathers. It evokes a beautiful tropical bird.
Warning: "Chrysocolla jasper" is not the same as Parrot Wing. Most market versions are dyed, though similar in color.
Tip: Expensive pieces might be true jasper with natural copper minerals.
Mottled green jasper earrings created by WS Faculty member Albina Manning. Maybe Rainforest?
This lovely jasper features greens and blues separated by fine lines resembling feathers. It evokes a beautiful tropical bird.
Warning: "Chrysocolla jasper" is not the same as Parrot Wing. Most market versions are dyed, though similar in color.
Tip: Expensive pieces might be true jasper with natural copper minerals.
Mottled green jasper earrings created by WS Faculty member Albina Manning. Maybe Rainforest?
Resources
Print Resources:
Peterson Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals by Frederick H. Pough, ISBN-0-395-91096-X
The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals by Charles W. Chesterman and Kurt E. Lowe, ISBN 0-394-50269-8
Print Resources:
Peterson Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals by Frederick H. Pough, ISBN-0-395-91096-X
The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals by Charles W. Chesterman and Kurt E. Lowe, ISBN 0-394-50269-8
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Dale Armstrong
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