{"id":8855,"date":"2022-03-14T19:47:08","date_gmt":"2022-03-14T19:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rockseeker.com\/?p=8855"},"modified":"2023-11-07T16:37:48","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T16:37:48","slug":"bumblebee-jasper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rockseeker.com\/bumblebee-jasper\/","title":{"rendered":"Bumblebee Jasper: What Is It? (And Is It Really Jasper?)"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the 1990s a new variety of \u201cjasper\u201d was discovered in Indonesia. The material’s orange and yellow dominant hues have led to it being called Bumblebee Jasper, but further discoveries have left a lot to be concerned about for fans of the stuff. Information can be hard to find and unreliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s where we come in. Let\u2019s take a walk down the road of discovery, and we can discuss the ins and outs of this beautiful, sometimes mysterious, material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Bumblebee Jasper Actually a Jasper?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No. Bumblebee jasper is not actually a type of jasper<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jasper is a loose term for opaque cryptocrystalline quartz, usually only used when it has attractive coloration. When it\u2019s dull we just call it chert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bumblebee Jasper isn\u2019t a silicate mineral, which means its name is a bit of a misnomer<\/a> from the start. The material\u2019s superficial resemblance to other jaspers is just that, superficial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, the material we call Bumblebee Jasper is a complex conglomerate of minerals<\/a>. Foremost among them is calcite, in which the coloring agents grow and create the complex patterns that the stone is known for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The calcite formation in Bumblebee Jasper is a little bit different from the type you find in geodes<\/a>. The crystals are formed as radial fibers from a central point, rather than the larger crystals that calcite is known for<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These coloring agents include realgar, and pyrite or hematite. The realgar content seems to be primarily found in orange<\/a> and yellow sections of the stone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyrite or hematite contains the oxidized iron that makes up the black parts of the stone. The end result is bands, orbs, and other complex structures that create striking patterns across the surface of the mineral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those of you who know minerals also know that realgar is a mineral that is high in arsenic, which is the cause of endless confusion about the material\u2019s properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, Is Bumblebee Jasper Dangerous?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The finished, polished form of Bumblebee Jasper is safe to handle.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the recent debates raging about this material is just how toxic it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve heard everything from, \u201cnot at all\u201d to \u201cdon\u2019t touch without gloves and a mask\u201d depending on who\u2019s been asked. The latter is a perfectly reasonable step to take in response to the arsenic content, but the truth is a little more complex than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Realgar is<\/em> toxic<\/a>. Very toxic, as the As4S4 out front should have told you. It doesn\u2019t need chemical processing in order to be used as a pesticide, which is primarily what the compound found use as before modern chemical engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenic is a cumulative poison. It builds up in the system over time and begins creating symptoms once it\u2019s reached a certain threshold. It\u2019s long been used as a poison for assassinations due to the fact it can slowly be introduced and do cumulative damage, rather than simply killing the person outright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s nasty<\/em> stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be advised that I\u2019ve been unable to find an actual case of poisoning by Bumblebee Jasper. Instead, what we\u2019re left with are ways to reduce risk based upon the form the mineral is in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d advise the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n