MORGAN HILL POPPY JASPER

In California, there are very few places to collect semi-precious stones. Many locations from the past have been either exhausted of the material or the land has been developed.

- RUSS KANIUTH

In the northern portion of the state, many like to venture out along the Stony Creek area in the hunt for brecciated jaspers, and down south, the Cady’s mountains have always been a good source of beautiful seam agates and various jaspers.

MORGAN HILL

The town of Morgan Hill at one time was the only source of rockhounding in the greater Bay Area. When poppy jasper was first discovered, Morgan Hill itself was just a small farming community that no one ever heard of, but since the discovery of poppy jasper, it skyrocketed the notoriety of Morgan Hill. Poppy jasper became the official city stone, it was used to name the recreation center, a local microbrew beer, as well as the international film festival there. The stone was named after the State Flower, the California poppy, which resides naturally all over that area.