Poppy Jasper

Poppy jasper is a natural rock material: a trade name for orbicular jasper, an opaque microcrystalline quartz, containing scattered, relatively bright red, orange or yellow orbicules (roughly spherical spots), typically in a yellowish-green background. The name refers to the poppy-like look of the spots. Mindat treats Poppy Jasper as a synonym of Orbicular Jasper.

Products made with this material

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Color
Color

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Bead diameter (mm)
Bead diameter (mm)

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Price (USD)
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Poppy Jasper
Poppy Jasper

8mm

$9.99 Available

Full material guide
Material facts

What the material is, where it comes from or how it is made, identification and care, from the cited sources.

Properties

Nature Natural rock material (orbicular jasper)
Composition Microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂) colored by mineral impurities; Mindat describes orbicular jasper as a highly silicified rhyolite or tuff with radial quartz and feldspar aggregates
Color Red, orange or yellow orbicules, typically in a yellowish-green background
Mohs hardness About 7 (jasper)
Specific gravity 2.55 to 2.91 (jasper)
Luster Waxy to dull; opaque

Origins & sources

The poppy-patterned jasper named in the gemrock literature comes from Paradise Valley and Llagas Creek in Santa Clara County, California; Morgan Hill, California, is a noteworthy source of orbicular jasper.

Identification

Poppy jasper is identified by the opaque jasper body with scattered bright red, orange or yellow orbicules; the name describes a pattern and, in its original use, a California locality. Orbicular jaspers from other places are sold under other names, such as Ocean Jasper from Madagascar. Jasper is commonly dyed (detected by appearance, spectrum or Chelsea filter) and is sometimes heated to change its color, which is undetectable.

Care

According to the International Gem Society, all types of jasper take an excellent polish, are trouble-free to care for and are hardy enough for all jewelry uses.

History & culture

History

Not collected yet

Cultural meanings

Not collected yet

Traditional beliefs

Not collected yet

Sources

Collected Oct 23, 2026

  • GemRocks: Jasper R. V. Dietrich, Central Michigan University (GemRocks) · Accessed Oct 23, 2026
    OverviewPropertiesOrigins & sourcesIdentification
  • Orbicular Jasper Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy) · Accessed Oct 23, 2026
    OverviewPropertiesOrigins & sourcesIdentification
  • Jasper Value, Price, and Jewelry Information International Gem Society · Accessed Oct 23, 2026
    OverviewPropertiesIdentificationCare