Description
Whitby Jet – 54g Genuine Fossilised Wood Gemstone
This Whitby Jet 54g specimen is a remarkable and substantial example of Britain’s most iconic organic gemstone — formed over 180 million years ago from fossilised conifer wood. Collected along the world-famous Jurassic Coast near Whitby, North Yorkshire, this authentic gemstone embodies both geological history and cultural heritage. With its rich black lustre, lightweight structure, and organic origin, Whitby Jet continues to captivate collectors, artisans, and gem enthusiasts worldwide.
Each specimen is 100% genuine and comes complete with a Certificate of Authenticity, confirming its provenance and composition. The photo shows the actual specimen you will receive, and a 1cm scale cube provides precise size reference. This large 54g specimen has been carefully chosen for its quality, uniformity, and deep colour — an exceptional natural example of Whitby Jet ideal for display, collection, or craftsmanship.
Geological Formation and Origin
Whitby Jet is a fossilised form of ancient wood derived from trees belonging to the extinct conifer family Araucariaceae, which flourished during the Lower Jurassic Period (Toarcian Stage), approximately 182 million years ago. When these trees died, their wood was transported into stagnant marine and coastal environments where oxygen was scarce. Over millions of years, carbonisation — a natural process involving compression and chemical transformation — turned the buried wood into a dense, carbon-rich material known as Jet.
The primary geological source of authentic Whitby Jet is the Whitby Mudstone Formation, a Jurassic sedimentary rock sequence running along the Yorkshire coastline from Staithes to Robin Hood’s Bay. This region is internationally renowned for its fossil-bearing strata, containing ammonites, belemnites, marine reptiles, and rich organic deposits. Within these mudstones, Jet formed under low-oxygen conditions that perfectly preserved the ancient conifer wood and created its unique lustrous black appearance.
Today, Whitby Jet is collected exclusively from natural coastal erosion and beach deposits — never mined — ensuring environmental protection of the fragile Jurassic cliffs.
Mineralogical and Physical Properties
- Type: Organic gemstone (fossilised conifer wood)
- Composition: Primarily carbon (~75%), with hydrogen, oxygen, and trace organic compounds
- Geological Age: Lower Jurassic (Toarcian, ~182 million years)
- Formation Environment: Marine sedimentary (Whitby Mudstone Formation)
- Hardness (Mohs): 2.5–4
- Lustre: Submetallic to vitreous when polished
- Colour: Deep black to brown-black
- Fracture: Conchoidal
- Specific Gravity: 1.30–1.35
Whitby Jet is lightweight yet durable, capable of taking a mirror-like polish that reveals its striking black sheen. Its fine-grained organic structure allows precise carving and polishing, producing a smooth, glassy surface that feels warm to the touch. Unlike mineral gemstones such as obsidian, Jet is formed from organic carbon and retains subtle traces of its original wood texture — sometimes visible as delicate striations or fibrous patterns under magnification.
Colour, Texture, and Aesthetic Qualities
This Whitby Jet 54g specimen showcases the gemstone’s characteristic deep, velvety black colour and natural organic texture. Even in its raw state, it has a subtle sheen and smooth tactile quality. When polished, it achieves a brilliant reflective finish, intensifying its colour to a rich, jet-black tone that absorbs light beautifully.
Its large size makes it particularly striking, with a pleasing balance of density and lightness. The gemstone’s organic nature ensures that every piece is unique, often revealing faint grain-like structures or soft natural variations. The aesthetic appeal of Whitby Jet lies in its ability to blend ancient history with refined elegance, making it ideal for jewellery-making, carving, or as a standout display specimen.
Geological and Cultural Significance
Whitby Jet holds an important place in both geological and human history. Scientifically, it represents the perfect preservation of prehistoric plant material under unique environmental conditions. The study of Jet provides valuable insights into the Jurassic paleoenvironment, including details of ancient forests and early carbon cycles.
Culturally, Whitby Jet has been treasured for millennia. Neolithic and Bronze Age communities crafted it into amulets, beads, and pendants, recognising its deep black sheen and organic warmth. The Romans later adopted Jet for decorative and spiritual use, believing it had protective properties and could ward off evil spirits.
Its most celebrated era came in the 19th century, during the Victorian period, when Queen Victoria made Whitby Jet fashionable as mourning jewellery following the death of Prince Albert. This royal endorsement elevated Jet to a status symbol of elegance and respect. The town of Whitby became a global centre for Jet craftsmanship, where skilled artisans hand-carved the gemstone into intricate brooches, cameos, necklaces, and rosaries.
Today, genuine Whitby Jet continues to be a protected and highly sought-after material. Its cultural connection to Britain’s history, combined with its geological rarity, makes it one of the most significant organic gemstones in the world.
Collector and Display Value
This Whitby Jet 54g genuine fossilised gemstone offers a rare opportunity to own a larger piece of this historically significant material. With its rich black tone, smooth surface, and impressive size, it makes an outstanding addition to any natural history collection, lapidary selection, or crystal display.
Every specimen is 100% genuine and supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity for complete peace of mind. The photo shows the actual specimen you will receive, ensuring full transparency. This 54g Whitby Jet piece is not only a striking geological specimen but also a tangible piece of Britain’s Jurassic heritage — a gemstone shaped by nature, time, and history into one of the most iconic and enduring treasures of the British Isles.
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