Veberod Bulletin August 2008 Jasper: Pictures in Stone A stunning gemstone mined in the Wild West! Jasper is an ornamental gemstone composed and gemstones. mostly of chalcedony, microcrystalline quartz, Morrisonite is a fan- in association with other minerals, which give it tastic green and tan colourful bands and patterns. orbicular jasper. There are countless local varieties of jasper, For many but some have been unique enough and produced years the mines in enough quantity to be named and collected. near Denio, Nevada Amethyst Sage Jasper One of the most famous of these is Biggs Picture produced a dendritic and Sugilite custom set in 14KT Gold Jasper. Biggs is generally a dark brown jasper agate that was pretty filled with wonderful swirls in colors of light much black and brown, yellow, blue, or grayish blue. Biggs jas- white. Now the mine Bruneau Jasper Ring per was discovered is yielding an amethystine like agate or jasper while construct- that has been named Amethyst Sage. It is a very ing Interstate 84 beautiful gemstone with purples, whites, grays through Sherman and of course the black dendritic bushes. County. Near Ocean Jasper, a stunning orbicular jasper, Biggs, Oregon. The was mined between 2000 and 2006 from the find is now covered Northeast coast of Madagascar. Prior to that, by the freeway so small pieces of float material had been discov- material is scarce. ered, but nobody knew where the source was. A The most systematic search by Paul Obenich uncovered the Ocean Jasper Ring famous jasper in deposit in an area that could only be reached dur- Idaho is the Bruneau jasper, a rusty-brown and ing low tide! In 2006 the deposit ran out and the tan gem-quality stone. The Bruneau deposits are, gem world waits to see if more will be found. for the most part, covered by Rocky Butte Picture unpatented mining claims and Jasper is another Oregon are situated approximately 50 Picture Jasper. The pri- road miles south of Bruneau mary location of origin is in Owyhee County. This is a the Owhyee Mountains of classic orbicular jasper with Eastern Oregon, near the overlapping circles of color. Idaho border. This jasper Quite often a gem stone is is one of the more unusual named for the person by whom of the picture jaspers and it was first discovered. That’s is widely known for its why Morrisonite is named for splendid array of colors James Morrison, who for over often including greens, half century made his home in tans, reds, and blue-gray. a canyon of the Owyhee river We have a great Veberod Gem Gallery in eastern Oregon. During collection of jaspers to 13023 Ridgedale Drive those years Mr. Morrison ex- choose from, and are Minnetonka, MN plored much of that rugged area always working on new 952-595-8338 known locally as the Owyhee jewelry designs! www.vgems.net An assortment of jaspers including Rocky breaks, searching for artifacts Butte (top right) and Biggs (bottom).