Poppy Jasper

If you look closely at the soil around Morgan Hill, especially “in the hills of our valley” or along Llagas Creek, you might stumble upon a rock that has the colors of autumn leaves captured in stone. This is Morgan Hill Poppy Jasper, an incredibly rare orbicular gemstone featuring circular patterns of red, orange or yellow that resemble miniature poppy flowers. This stone was formed millions of years ago by superheated silica and iron oxide ("rust"), “with tiny bubbles” cooling into spheres.

“Our” Poppy Jasper is found exclusively in the Morgan Hill area and has been designated as the city’s official stone. A specimen of it is found in The Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. with the label, “Morgan Hill, California”. Other poppy jaspar is found around the world but of different colors, white & gray & white & black, not like ours. Geologically, it is classified as a sedimentary rock. Although composed mainly of quartz, it is technically a form of chalcedony quartz.

The community has brought the gem into the public eye in various ways, such as lending its name to the famous Poppy Jasper International Film Festival. Large pieces are on display at Villa Mira Monte and in the Community and Cultural Center. Because it is especially beautiful when polished, it is often used to create jewelry. It has also been immortalized as a vibrant public art wall at the Third Street entrance of the downtown parking structure.

Poppy Jasper is a millions-of-years-old reminder that Morgan Hill’s natural history is a one-of-a-kind marvel that locals cherish.