Jasper: Peanut Wood
With stunning, all-natural swirls of beige and brown hues, it is no wonder that peanut wood jasper has been called the "Stone of the Earth."
Jasper is one of the many gemstones that belong to the quartz family. It is an opaque and impure variety of silicon dioxide. The name 'jasper' comes from the Greek word for 'spotted stone,' which refers to the stone's multicolored, striped, spotted or flamed appearance. Jasper is a dense substance which can be made of up to 20 percent of foreign materials. Because of these impurities, jasper is rarely uniformly formed. Peanut wood jasper is a form of petrified or fossilized wood. Organic matter is replaced by agate during the decomposition processes, turning wood to stone over a long period of time. Prior to the petrification process, ocean-bound driftwood was attacked by small marine shellfish called "teredo." The teredo bore small tunnels into the wood, eventually perforating the entire piece with boreholes. When the wood became waterlogged, it then sank to the muddy ocean bottom. The boreholes were filled with light-colored sediment before beginning the petrification process. The petrification process was believed to have occurred around 70 million years ago.
- Some of the earliest tools fashioned by man were made of quartz. Dating back to 2.5 million years ago, primitive quartz tools were discovered in the Omo valley of Ethiopia. It is believed that quartz was used because of its hardness and isotropic brittleness that made the fashioning of the tools relatively easy.
- Ancient civilizations believed that the cosmos was reflected in gemstones. Jasper was assigned to the planets Mars and Pluto.
- According to the Bible, jasper was a gift from God and would be the first foundation stone of the New Jerusalem.
- Peanut wood jasper helps provides strength and support during a crisis. It brings tranquility and feelings of well-being.
- This stone of protection is said to absorb negative energy.
- Peanut wood is a stone that is good for grounding and stabilizing one's emotions. Wear this gem to help you keep your feet on the ground.
- Crystal healers use jasper to re-energize the body and alleviate symptoms of prolonged illness. Peanut wood jasper also aids women who are going through menopause, helping them find stability and understanding.
LOCATION: Australia
Jasper gemstones can be found in many locations throughout the world. Some of the most notable deposits are found in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mexico, Russia, Uruguay, Venezuela and the United States. We source peanut wood jasper from the Kennedy Ranges near Gascoyne Junction in Western Australia. These gemstones must be collected by hand, not mined.
- Ranks 7.0 on the Mohs hardness scale.
- Colors show a swirl of white, tan, beige, brown, and black.
- Sourced from Australia.
- A member of the quartz family.
- Also known as petrified wood.
- Jasper is linked to the zodiacal sign of Virgo.
- 100 percent natural stone; no additional treatments.
