The Big 5 Jaspers

The Five Fine Jaspers of the World refers to five types of jasper that are especially prized for their beauty, rarity, and distinctive patterns. These jaspers are celebrated by collectors, jewellers and lapidary artists for their fine grain, polishability, and natural artistic patterns that resemble landscapes or abstract paintings. They are:

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿 (Oregon, USA)
Often called the King of Jaspers, Morrisonite comes from a remote area in eastern Oregon. It features intricate patterns in earthy tones - greens, blues, browns, and creams - with excellent hardness and polish. It's known for tight patterning and depth, almost like impressionist landscapes.

𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿 (Idaho, USA)
Found near the Bruneau River canyon, this jasper is known for its rich brown, red, and cream swirls. It was heavily mined in the mid-20th century but is now scarce, making high quality specimens increasingly valuable.

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿 (Idaho, USA)
This jasper features pastel tones - lavenders, pinks and creams with flowing, orb-like or scenic patterns. Its porcelain like finish when polished makes it a favorite among lapidaries. It's still mined, but high-quality rough is limited.

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿 (Mexico)
Mined primarily in Zacatecas, this jasper is revered for its strong, concentric orb patterns in a wide array of colours, often muted greens, pinks, or tans. It has a very fine grain and takes a mirror-like polish.

𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿 (Madagascar)
Technically a type of orbicular jasper, Ocean Jasper is mined along the remote coasts of Madagascar and only accessible at low tide. It displays orbs and wave-like patterns in greens, pinks, yellows, and whites. Mining has ceased for the original deposit, increasing its collectability.

• Saturday, May 3, 2025
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