Bumblebee Jasper is a colorful mixture of volcanic matter, anhydrite, hematite, sulfur, and arsenic minerals found in volcanic fumaroles. It is famous for its bright yellow, orange, and black banding which mimics the appearance of a bumblebee. Due to the presence of arsenic-bearing minerals, collectors should avoid wet-sanding or creating dust when working with this material.
Is this bumblebee jasper?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch bumblebee jasper with a known reference. Bumblebee Jasper sits at Mohs 6-7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bumblebee Jasper leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bumblebee Jasper typically shows a dull to waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, orange, black, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Bumblebee Jasper vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bumblebee jasper
Minerals reported to co-occur with bumblebee jasper. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6-7
- Density
- 2.6-2.7 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Dull to Waxy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Lapidary, Decorative, Collector
- Host rock
- Volcanic Vent Deposits
- Typical price
- $10-50 small slabs, $50-200 finished carvings
Where rockhounds find bumblebee jasper
Classic worldwide localities
- Mount Papandayan, Indonesia
Field-hunting tip
Look in volcanic vent deposits country — that is the host setting where bumblebee jasper typically forms. If you start seeing realgar, orpiment, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find bumblebee jasper on the map
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