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Mineral: quartz
Gem: poppy jasper
Size: 23 mm x 35 mm
Carat: 36.6 ct
Cut: freeform cabochon
Origin: California
General Info: Jasper is derived from the Anglo-French "jaspre", meaning "spotted stone". Jasper is usually formed from old sediments (or volcanic ash flows) that have been glued (and at times replaced) with silica.

Flow patterns of the original material are often easy to see. Many jaspers are know as picture jasper because they contain what appear to be small images of sand dunes, mountains, plains, and even sky. Since the original materials were likely cross bedded sediments, they often contain the structure they mimic.

Additional Information
Poppy jasper comes from California, the Morgan Hill area. It contains red and yellow dots of "poppy flowers". It is a brecciated jasper likely originating from sun-dried and oxidized iron-rich clay. The cracks were filled in by other substances later. The area is also active tectonically and hence much of the jasper is fractured due to years of post formation earthquake land movement. It is an orbicular jasper.