Petite Poppies

Orbicular or "Poppy" Jasper, Olympic Peninsula, WA

I first stumbled onto this rock as an intriguing pebble on a beach along the shores of Puget Sound, covered with tiny red orbs against a dark matrix. Only later did I learn that they are referred to as Olympic "Poppy" Jasper, from Washington's Olympic Peninsula. Although some sources (like Jackson..see below) describe an outcrop of the stone just west of Lake Crescent, most people find this along the coastal beaches. These were all from a brief walk along Rialto Beach just north of the Quileute River near Forks, WA (Home of the "Twilight" stories)

Most are small and uncommon, but as you train your eyes for them along these cobble beaches, they start to jump out at you. I filled a bucket full of them, although many are badly cracked and pitted and will probably not take a good polish.  These were some of my favorites which have been tumbled for a month or so - yet still show some cracking and pitting - testimony to the brittle nature of the basalt they weathered out of.

Still, they are handsome little stones that I am happy to have found. Someday I may go look for the outcrop, but for now, these will do.