Wood jasper is the bead-trade name for petrified wood. Ancient wood was replaced by silica, so the grain, rings and swirls are kept in stone.
See it as
Quartz (microcrystalline) · Chalcedony / jasper (fossil wood)
Wood Jasper
Jaspe madera
- Palette
- Brown Orange Yellow Gray
- Mined in
- Africa, Australia, India, Madagascar, Mexico
- Hardness
- Mohs 6.5–7.0 ?
- See-through
- opaque
- Known since
- Prehistoric
- Named for
- its wood-grain stripes and rings
- Also sold as
- Petrified Wood Jasper, Petrified Wood, Fossil Wood, Wood Agate
- Intention
- Strength Calm
- Looking for
- Patience Grounding Willpower Protection
- Water
- Fine with water and mild soap
- Dye or finish
- Wood jasper is petrified wood and is normally sold natural; the colors come from the minerals in the stone.
In our pieces · 1See the piece ↓
69.7 METERS
The longest officially recognized petrified log measures 69.7 meters, at Bantak Petrified Forest Park in Thailand.
LESVOS
The Greek island of Lesvos may hold the largest petrified forest, covering over 150 square kilometers with trunks up to 22 meters long.
225 MILLION YEARS
The logs of Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona come from trees that lived about 225 million years ago, in the Late Triassic.
What it is
Brown, tan, honey and gray stone with visible wood-grain stripes, rings and swirls. Beads sold as 'wood jasper' are normally petrified wood: ancient wood replaced by silica (chalcedony, jasper and sometimes opal) so that the grain is preserved in stone.
What gives it its color
Petrified wood gets its colors from trace metals, mostly iron, which gives a range of hues depending on its form, and chromium can give a bright green; the red in jasper comes from iron.
Where it comes from
Petrified wood is found in Arizona (Petrified Forest), Indonesia, northwest Madagascar, Santa Cruz Province in Argentina and Egypt; jasper in general is also reported from India's Deccan Traps and Madagascar.
In history
Ancestral Puebloan builders in Arizona used petrified wood to build Agate House, and Clovis and Folsom spear points made from it are among the oldest artifacts at Petrified Forest. In 1737 a whole petrified forest was found in the town of Chemnitz, Germany, and in 1906 President Theodore Roosevelt made Petrified Forest a national monument.
What's said about it
In crystal lore, petrified wood is called the stone of patience. Jasper in general is traditionally associated with stability, grounding and perseverance, and people keep it for steady, unhurried days.
Jasper is also linked with nature. Some people hold a piece while they sit near water to meditate, or take one outdoors when they ask to feel safe and secure.
It is worn on the wrist, carried in a pocket or held in the hand.
How people wear or keep it: On the wrist, in a pocket, held in the hand, or in a meditation space.
In crystal practice
In the crystal tradition, wood jasper is paired with the root and solar plexus chakras, so practitioners rest it there during meditation or lie down with it in place for a few quiet minutes. Day to day, the same tradition suggests keeping it close: on the wrist, in a pocket, held in the hand. People reach for it when they want patience, grounding, willpower, and many set an intention when they put it on. Most practitioners cleanse a new stone first (running water only if the stone can take it, otherwise smoke or moonlight) and set it aside now and then to rest.
These are beliefs people have held and still hold about the stone, reported as such. Nothing here is a promise or a medical claim. We sell stones as jewelry, not for these effects.
Associations
The chakra and star sign this stone is usually matched with. These are popular traditions, not facts about the stone.
ChakraRoot, Solar Plexus
ZodiacLeo, Scorpio, Virgo
ElementFire
Also calledPetrified Wood Jasper, Petrified Wood, Fossil Wood
Care
- Hard enough for regular wear, but keep from sharp knocks along grain lines.
- Clean with a soft damp cloth and mild soap; dry fully.
- Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and sudden temperature changes.
- Store separately from harder gemstones.
How to tell what you have
- Real petrified wood is silica (chalcedony, jasper or quartz) that replaced the wood, so grain, rings and fine cell detail stay visible in stone.
- Look for wood-grain stripes in brown, tan and honey; the pattern runs through the bead.
- Stripes that look drawn on or a very uniform color would be a warning; real wood grain varies.
What sets the price
The price follows how clear the wood grain and growth rings are, how pleasing the color is (gray and brown are the common colors, green or red are less common), and the bead size, roundness and polish.
Related stones
Questions people ask at our table
What is wood jasper?
It is a bead-trade name for petrified wood, where the original wood was replaced by silica minerals, leaving the grain in stone.
Is it really jasper?
Not strictly. Fire Mountain Gems calls it jasper-like, with a makeup similar to jasper and chalcedony and sometimes opal, and Barlow's classes it as chalcedony replacing wood.
Is it dyed?
Fire Mountain lists its petrified wood beads as natural, with no color alteration noted. Other suppliers may differ, so check the listing.
How hard is it?
Both retailers rate it about 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale.
Where is it found?
The sources I read do not give an origin, so none is listed. Ask the supplier.
Our wood jasper pieces
Stay in the loop
Sign up to hear about new product drops, upcoming events, and the latest from Peritik. No spam, just the good stuff.