Natural ocean jasper heart carving 8.9g loose gemstone for jewelry

Natural Agates & Jaspers

Agate and jasper are both microcrystalline quartz (SiO2), made of crystals far too small to see. Agate is the translucent, often banded form of chalcedony, while jasper is opaque, colored by iron oxides and other minerals into reds, yellows, browns and greens. With a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7, both are durable stones that take a fine polish.

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Gemstone guide

Natural Agates & Jaspers

About agate and jasper

Agate usually forms in cavities in volcanic rock, where silica-rich water deposited layer after layer of chalcedony, producing its typical bands. Jasper forms when silica fills and hardens sediment or volcanic ash, so its patterns record the material it grew through. Both have been carved and worn for thousands of years, and many named varieties exist, such as ocean jasper from the coast of Madagascar, dendritic agate with fern-like inclusions, and grape agate from Indonesia.

What you'll find in this collection

Our agate and jasper come from Madagascar, India, Indonesia and Brazil, and all are untreated. You'll find ocean jasper hearts, jasper and dendritic agate cabochons from about 15 to over 125 carats, an iris agate cabochon, and small lots of grape agate crystals sold by weight.

How to recognise agate and jasper

Ocean jasper shows round, eye-like spots called orbs, often in green, white and pink. Dendritic agate contains black or brown branching patterns of manganese oxide that look like tiny trees. Grape agate is not true grape-shaped crystals but tiny rounded balls of chalcedony clustered together, often purple. Iris agate is banded so finely that a thin, backlit slice shows rainbow colors.

Caring for agate and jasper

Agate and jasper are hard and tough. Clean them with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Some agates on the market are dyed, but ours are natural, so avoid long exposure to strong sunlight to keep their natural colors at their best.

Every stone is natural, and each listing gives its weight, size, origin and treatment, with photos of the actual stone.