What's Poppy Jasper?
In recent decades quality samples of Poppy Jasper have become extremely scarce in rock and mineral shops. Longtime gem smith Bill Tyrol and local geologist Peter Anderson recently came across a large sample of unusually high quality poppy jasper that they felt belonged in Morgan Hill. They, along with the Morgan Hill Historical Society, lead a fundraising drive to purchase the sample and build a beautiful display to showcase this striking gem. Visit the Poppy Jasper on display in City Hall, the Library, Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, or a local business. |
Poppy Jasper is a world-renowned, semi-precious gemstone characterized by red and "poppy-yellow" circles (orbs) on a field of white or black. Poppy Jasper is unique to the Morgan Hill South Santa Clara Valley area. The Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC lists the "type locality" for Poppy Jasper as Morgan Hill, California.