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Willow Creek Jasper

willow-creek-jasper

Willow Creek Jasper is a well known semi precious gemstone material that comes from about 15 miles north of Eagle, Idaho, which is northeast of Boise.

The mine has been producing material for over 40 years. Willow Creek Jasper is found on private property and the mine is currently owned by Larry Ridley.  Mr. Ridley began rockhounding in 1983 and I believe he purchased the Willow Creek Mine in the 1990's after the untimely death of one of the previous mine owners.

This well known Jasper actually forms as the centers of giant thundereggs, some as large as 10 feet in diameter. The outside is a hard Rhyolite. The thundereggs must be broken opened using drills, sledgehammers and wedges.  Unfortunately not every egg found contains the prized Jasper, in fact only about 7 out of 8 of the eggs do!

Willow Creek Jasper is known for its subtle pastel colors, mostly browns, greens and pinks, and its squiggly line patterns, and occasionally orb patterns.

Compared to other fine jaspers, Willow Creek is considered a porcelain jasper, or a very nice, high grade, fine grained jasper.  It takes an excellent polish and has fewer natural fractures than other jaspers.

Jasper is an ornamental rock composed mostly of chalcedony, microcrystalline quartz, in association with other minerals, which give it colorful bands and patterns. Jasper was a favorite gem in the ancient world, and the name jasper can be traced back in Hebrew, Assyrian, Persian, Greek, and Latin.

OakRocks has been in the rock and mineral business for 30 years. We are a great source for Willow Creek Jasper and carry a variety of Willow Creek Jasper cabochons, slabs and rough rock.