Description
Genuine 9g Whitby Jet – Natural Fossilised Gemstone from Whitby, North Yorkshire
This authentic 9g Whitby Jet specimen is a beautifully preserved piece of fossilised wood from the renowned Jurassic cliffs of Whitby, North Yorkshire, England. With its signature deep black lustre and lightweight feel, this Jet is a natural treasure formed over millions of years from ancient forests that thrived along prehistoric coastlines. The specimen has been carefully selected for its fine texture, clean polish, and rich natural hue — showcasing the premium quality for which Whitby Jet is world-famous.
The photo shows the exact specimen you will receive, with a 1 cm scale cube for precise size reference. Every piece is 100% genuine, responsibly sourced, and supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity, confirming its provenance and natural geological formation. This 9g piece embodies the timeless elegance, rarity, and historical significance that make Whitby Jet one of Britain’s most prized natural gemstones.
Geological Formation and Origin
Whitby Jet originates from the Jurassic Period, approximately 182 million years ago, and is derived from the fossilised wood of the Araucaria tree, an ancient conifer related to today’s monkey puzzle tree. It forms within the Whitby Mudstone Formation, a sequence of marine shales deposited during the Lower Toarcian Stage of the Early Jurassic.
These deposits accumulated in shallow marine environments rich in organic matter. Over vast geological timeframes, the buried wood was subjected to high pressure, limited oxygen, and chemical alteration, leading to the creation of Jet — a dense, compact, carbon-rich mineraloid. Unlike coal, which forms from compressed layers of vegetation, Whitby Jet originates from single pieces of driftwood that underwent fossilisation under exceptional geological conditions.
The Whitby coastline — stretching from Robin Hood’s Bay to Staithes — remains the most important and authentic source of Jet globally. Collectors and lapidarists prize Whitby Jet for its purity, durability, and unrivalled ability to take a smooth, mirror-like polish, making it one of the most famous ornamental materials in the world.
Mineralogical Characteristics
- Type: Organic Mineraloid (Fossilised Wood)
- Chemical Composition: Primarily Carbon, with minor Oxygen, Hydrogen, and Sulphur
- Geological Age: Early Jurassic (~182 million years)
- Formation Process: Fossilisation of Araucaria wood under high pressure and low oxygen
- Hardness: 2.5 – 4.0 (Mohs scale)
- Specific Gravity: 1.3 – 1.4 (lightweight)
- Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
- Lustre: Dull to vitreous when polished
- Colour: Deep black to brownish-black
Whitby Jet is a true organic gem, lacking the crystal lattice structure of minerals but displaying a uniform, compact texture. When polished, it develops a bright, reflective sheen — a hallmark of genuine Jet. Its lightweight nature and smooth feel distinguish it from imitations such as obsidian or black glass. Authentic Whitby Jet also emits a faint smell of burnt wood when touched with a hot needle — a classic field test used by gemologists to confirm its organic origin.
Visual and Aesthetic Qualities
This 9g Whitby Jet specimen embodies the captivating elegance that has made Jet jewellery and carvings timeless. Its pure, velvety black surface reflects light softly, revealing natural grain patterns and an inner depth unique to fossilised wood. When polished, the stone takes on a glossy, mirror-like finish that exudes sophistication and refinement.
Each piece of Jet tells a geological story — from ancient conifer forests that once covered prehistoric Yorkshire to the powerful natural processes that compressed them into stone over millions of years. The material’s dark hue symbolises strength and endurance, while its smooth texture provides a tactile, soothing quality. Whether displayed as a collector’s piece, used for jewellery making, or admired for its historical significance, this specimen reflects the deep connection between natural beauty and geological time.
Historical and Cultural Significance
Whitby Jet has been treasured for thousands of years, with examples of Jet beads and amulets found in Bronze Age and Viking archaeological sites across Europe. However, it gained worldwide fame during the Victorian Era, when Queen Victoria popularised Jet jewellery as part of her mourning attire after the death of Prince Albert in 1861. The gemstone’s lustrous black finish became a symbol of dignity and remembrance, and Whitby’s artisans established a thriving trade crafting brooches, pendants, cameos, and rosaries.
Unlike many gemstones, Whitby Jet is not mined but collected from natural cliff falls and beach deposits, preserving both the coastline and its geological integrity. It remains protected as part of Whitby’s cultural and scientific heritage, celebrated in museums and gem collections worldwide. Its association with craftsmanship, heritage, and enduring beauty continues to make Whitby Jet a quintessentially British gemstone.
Scientific and Geological Context
Geologically, Whitby Jet provides valuable insight into the processes of organic fossilisation and carbonisation. Its fine molecular structure represents a transitional material between wood and coal, retaining traces of the original plant’s cellular pattern while displaying the chemical stability of a solid carbon matrix. The transformation occurred under low-oxygen marine conditions, preserving fine organic detail.
Jet’s uniformity and purity make it an important study material in palaeobotany and organic geochemistry, helping scientists understand how plant material fossilises over time. The specimen you hold is not merely a gemstone — it is a piece of ancient life, encapsulating over 180 million years of Earth’s natural history.
Authenticity and Provenance
All of our specimens are 100% genuine, ethically sourced, and guaranteed authentic. This 9g Whitby Jet piece has been hand-selected for its rich, natural black colour, fine texture, and exceptional polish. Each specimen is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, verifying its provenance from the Whitby region of North Yorkshire, England.
The exact specimen shown in the photographs is the one you will receive. Beautiful, rare, and steeped in history, this Whitby Jet gemstone represents the perfect union of geological wonder, cultural heritage, and timeless natural beauty — a true treasure of the Jurassic world.
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