What is Guadalupe poppy jasper?

Jaspers are part of the chalcedony/quartz family of gemstones. When a quartz crystal is made up of at least 20% "foreign material," it is referred to as a jasper. The type of foreign material dictates the color of the jasper. Guadalupe poppy jasper is thought to have originated as an iron-rich clay. Here is a piece of uncut Guadalupe poppy jasper.

Do you see the poppies? And because Guadalupe poppy jasper only comes from the Guadalupe Reservoir area of central California, it is named Guadalupe poppy jasper.

Guadalupe poppy jasper is exceptionally rare. First, as noted above, it has only been found in one location, in California. Second, that location is on private property and has not been mined since the 1940's! As the remaining uncut material from the 1940's is cut and sold, the price just escalates as the raw gemstones becomes scarcer and scarcer.

Like most jaspers, Guadalupe poppy jasper is relatively hard, at 6.5-7.0 on the Mohs scale. Because it is so hard, Guadalupe poppy jasper is a very durable gemstone for jewelry. Here, from my Signature Collection,  is an example of a beautifuil polished piece of Guadalupe poppy jasper that I have set into a one-of-a-kind sterling silver necklace with a red garnet accent.

Jasper is said to have numerous healing and holistic properties. It is said to inspire a positive and creative attitude, and to awaken sleeping parts of the body. In older times, it was thought to ward off evil spirits and protect one from snake and spider bites. In both ancient European and Native American cultures, it is thought to bring rain.

What is Mookaite jasper?

Mookaite jasper, also known as mookite, mookalite, moakite and moukaite, comes exclusively from mines in Western Australian. It is so named because it comes from the Mooka Creek area of Australia. Technically, Mookaite jasper is a Windalia Radiolarite (sedimentary rock) whose silification is opaline to chalcedonic, but all you need to remember is that it is a beautiful gemstone that comes in red, purple, tan, white, ivory and pink. Here is a sample in its natural form.

Mookaite jasper is said to have a beneficial energy vibration that slows the aging process, and similarly is said to be helpful in healing when placed under the pillow. Some advocate use of Mookaite jasper to stimulate intuitive abilities. I just love the gemstone because of its rarity and beautiful colors. Here are some earrings that I designed using sterling silver and red Mookaite jasper cabochons, from my collection.

 

Mookaite jasper is a part of the quartz/chalcedony family, and is a relatively hard gemstone ranging between 6.5-7.0 on the Mohs scale, about the same as quart and tourmaline. Its relative hardness makes it excellent for durable jewelry and less susceptible to scratching by everyday wear.


Rarely, raw Mookaite jasper will contain dendrites, a branching figure or marking resembling moss or a shrub, due to the presence of a foreign material. Here is a beautiful example of a polished Mookaite cabochon from Topgems containing a dendrite tree. Because of the rarity, even small stones like this can sell for 100's of dollars.