Judging quality
The yellow is sulfur-bright and the black bands are sooty. Softer than jasper and slightly porous; it will scratch with a steel point.
Sedimentary
Bumblebee Stone
Banded yellow, orange and black material from a live volcanic fumarole field in Java. Sold as 'bumblebee jasper', but it is not a jasper at all — it is volcanic sediment cemented with sulfur, calcite and arsenic minerals.
Care
Contains arsenic-bearing minerals. Do not tumble, cut dry, lick or sand it. Handle finished polished pieces normally and wash hands; keep out of reach of children.
History & lore
Collected from active volcanic vents where the material is still forming — one of the few gem materials being made in human timescales.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Bumblebee Stone
- What is Bumblebee Stone?
- Banded yellow, orange and black material from a live volcanic fumarole field in Java. Sold as 'bumblebee jasper', but it is not a jasper at all — it is volcanic sediment cemented with sulfur, calcite and arsenic minerals.
- How hard is Bumblebee Stone and what is it made of?
- Bumblebee Stone is a Sedimentary-family mineral with the composition Volcanic sediment with sulfur & arsenic. It crystallizes in the — system and rates 4-5 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in yellow, black, orange.
- Where does Bumblebee Stone come from?
- Notable localities for Bumblebee Stone include Mount Papandayan, West Java, Indonesia.
- How do you tell good Bumblebee Stone from filler?
- The yellow is sulfur-bright and the black bands are sooty. Softer than jasper and slightly porous; it will scratch with a steel point.
- How do you care for Bumblebee Stone?
- Contains arsenic-bearing minerals. Do not tumble, cut dry, lick or sand it. Handle finished polished pieces normally and wash hands; keep out of reach of children.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.