Bumble Bee Jasper Tower - Obelisk

This Bumble Bee Jasper tower is cut into a standing obelisk with a tapered, pointed tip, up to 50 grams. The directional shape reads as a small landmark rather than a loose stone, and the banding runs upward in bands you can trace from base to point. Because the pattern is natural, the exact placement of color bands varies from tower to tower.

Quick facts

About

Despite its trade name, Bumble Bee Jasper is not a jasper — it is a banded volcanic sedimentary rock from near Mount Papandayan in West Java, Indonesia. Its yellow and black coloring comes from sulfur- and arsenic-bearing minerals, including realgar and orpiment, layered with calcite and aragonite. The tower, or obelisk, is one of the oldest lapidary shapes for standing stones: a flat base for stability and a tapered point at the top, which is why towers are often set out individually rather than grouped in a bowl. At roughly 5-6 on the Mohs scale, the stone polishes well but can still be chipped if dropped on a hard surface. See our tower and obelisk collection, the jasper collection, or the full stones collection.

How to use it

A tower's flat base is built for standing upright on its own — on a shelf, windowsill, desk, or altar space where the point draws the eye upward. Many people place towers at the edge of a room or workspace as a marker piece, or group a few different stone towers together as a small standing collection. Set it somewhere stable where it won't be knocked over.

Care

Dust with a dry, soft cloth; avoid household cleaners. Never place this stone in water and never use it to make elixirs or gem water — its coloring comes from sulfur- and arsenic-bearing minerals, so soaking it or ingesting anything that has touched it is not safe. Never grind, cut, sand, or otherwise create dust from it. Wash your hands after handling, and keep it away from children and pets who might mouth it.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bumble Bee Jasper toxic?
The color banding comes from sulfur- and arsenic-bearing minerals such as realgar and orpiment. Polished pieces can be handled normally, but wash your hands afterward, never place the stone in water or make elixirs with it, and never grind, cut, or sand it to avoid creating dust. Keep it away from young children and pets.

Is Bumble Bee Jasper really a jasper?
No. Despite the name, it is a banded volcanic sedimentary rock from West Java, Indonesia, not a member of the jasper (chalcedony) family.

What does the pointed tip mean?
Nothing is claimed about the tip beyond its shape. Towers are a classic lapidary form with a flat base and a tapered point, valued for how they stand upright as a display piece.

Can I get it wet?
No. Keep it dry at all times — never soak it, rinse it under running water, or use it in gem water or elixirs.

Is this a health product?
No. This is a decorative item, not a health product. Any traditional associations noted are cultural attribution, not medical claims.

Does it come with a stand?
No separate stand is included. The tower's flat-cut base is designed to let it stand on its own on a level surface.