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.