Mauve Deschutes Jasper: Awesome Collector's Display Slab; Will-o'-the-wisp Orbs

This is a top-quality and impressive gem-grade polished display specimen slab of rare Deschutes jasper. They don't get much better, or more unique, than this specimen, even in museums. This piece shows a background of distant mountains under a dusky sky. The midground is occupied by mauve-colored mist, and the foreground is an undulating plain sprinkled with inky black dendrite (formations that resemble trees or shrubs) bushes and grasses. From the mist float unusual orbicular lights that remind me of the "Will-'o-the-wisp" lights that legendarily haunt marshlands. It really does look like a painting to my eye. The polish is glass-like, though there are a very few, very light storage scratches. This is thick enough to tempt cutting into fine gemstones, but at an impressive 7" pieces of this size are almost impossible to come by, and I think its original intent as a display piece should be honored. The acrylic display stand shown is included. This one is both rare and impressive. I've only had a few pieces of this caliber, and they were difficult to find even back when Deschutes was more easily obtainable.

Deschutes is one of the premier ""porcelain"" jaspers (so-named because of the glass-like polish which it takes). Deschutes, Morrisonite and Imperial jaspers are the triumvirate representing highest-quality jaspers, and each has been given the designation ""King of Jaspers"" by various writers. Although it is sometimes confused with the nearby Biggs jasper, Deschutes usually has tighter patterns, a different color palette and is more dense (more highly silicified). Deschutes jasper is now extinct; although the deposit was totally exhausted over 40 years ago, it is still highly sought after by collectors. A stunning display piece worthy of a museum-quality collection.

The photos were taken with the material dry under natural light. A display stand is included, as shown.

Approx. Size: 179 x 65 x 5.4 mm
Approx. Weight: 145 g
Shape/Cut: irregular/slab polished 1 side
Origin: junction of the Deschutes and Columbia Rivers, Sherman County, Oregon (USA)
Known treatment(s): none

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