The facts
What rainforest Jasper actually is
Mineralogically, rainforest Jasper is spherulitic rhyolite - a volcanic rock with radial devitrification spherulites - not a jasper — Rhyolitic glass and groundmass devitrified to quartz and feldspar, with epidote, celadonite and iron oxides, crystallising in the aggregate system.
The colour is caused by celadonite and epidote for green, iron oxides for red and yellow, in orbicular spherulites. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.54 (spot), and the specific gravity sits near 2.50-2.65; cleavage is none.
Where rainforest Jasper comes from
The recognised sources are Mount Hay and the Mount Hay Gemstone Tourist Park, Central Queensland, Australia and Rubyvale district, Queensland, Australia.
Origin affects price in this material, so we name the locality on every quote rather than the country. "African" or "Asian" tells a buyer nothing.
How rainforest Jasper is treated
Untreated; some cheap material is dyed to strengthen contrast. The trade name is misleading but well established and describes a genuinely distinct material from a single district. Not CITES. Queensland fossicking licences apply to on-site collecting.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What rainforest Jasper is confused with
The usual confusions are Ocean jasper (Madagascar, also spherulitic), Leopard skin jasper, Ordinary jasper and Dyed rhyolite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.54 (spot) and specific gravity 2.50-2.65 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What rainforest Jasper is used for
Rainforest Jasper is bought by jewellery, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the block or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 6.5-7; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What rainforest Jasper costs
Indicative pricing for rainforest Jasper is $3-15 per kilogram rough; cabochons $10-60.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is rainforest Jasper treated, and how?
Untreated; some cheap material is dyed to strengthen contrast. The trade name is misleading but well established and describes a genuinely distinct material from a single district. Not CITES. Queensland fossicking licences apply to on-site collecting.
Where does rainforest Jasper come from?
Mount Hay and the Mount Hay Gemstone Tourist Park, Central Queensland, Australia and Rubyvale district, Queensland, Australia. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is rainforest Jasper hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does rainforest Jasper cost?
Indicatively $3-15 per kilogram rough; cabochons $10-60. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is rainforest Jasper confused with?
Most often Ocean jasper (Madagascar, also spherulitic), Leopard skin jasper, Ordinary jasper and Dyed rhyolite. A refractive index of 1.54 (spot) and a specific gravity near 2.50-2.65 separate it quickly.
What is rainforest Jasper used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for rainforest jasper?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about rainforest jasper