Bumblebee Jasper

Bumblebee jasper is the trade name for a vivid yellow, orange and black banded stone from Indonesia. Despite the name it is not a true jasper — true jasper is a quartz (chalcedony), whereas bumblebee jasper contains little or no quartz. It is instead a sedimentary and volcanic rock formed in the hydrothermal vents of active volcanoes, notably around Mount Papandayan on Java.

What it is made of

Its bright bands are a mixture of volcanic materials: calcite and aragonite, sulfur (the source of the glowing yellow), the arsenic-sulfide minerals realgar and orpiment (orange), with manganese oxides and volcanic ash forming the dark grey and black layers.

A note on handling

Because bumblebee jasper contains arsenic-bearing minerals, treat it as a display stone: avoid grinding or dry-polishing rough material without proper protection, don't make it into anything that touches food or the mouth, and wash your hands after handling rough pieces. Sealed, polished specimens are safe to enjoy on the shelf.

For collectors

Intense yellow-and-orange banding with strong black contrast and a good polish make the most striking pieces.