Jet is organic in origin, and is also known as black amber, although it is not actually an amber, but rather fossilized wood. Like coal it is formed by the remains of wood that has been immersed in water for millions of years, then compacted and fossilized. When burned or touched with a hot implement, it often exudes the characteristic smell of coal.
It was used extensively in mourning jewelry in Victorian times due to its somber color and modest appearance. This stone has long been considered a stone for alleviating and bringing grief to the surface to be healed.
Medieval healers believed that burning jet was a cure for fevers and all manner of different illnesses. It has been mined since 1400BC and worked pieces of jet have been found in prehistoric burial mounds. In the 16th century jet was used to create rosary beads for monks, as it was told that the gemstone would invoke the favor of God, the Greeks believed that wearing jet would ensure the favor of Gods, and the Pueblo Indians buried the gemstone with their dead, as it was believed it would protect them in the after life.
Scientific Properties:
Mohs Hardness of 2.5 with a amorphous crystal structure.
Like coal, jet is formed from the remains of wood immersed in stagnant water millions of years ago, then compacted and fossilized by the pressures of burial in the earth.
There is evidence that suggests that Jet may have been mined since about 1400BC; remains of worked Jet pieces have been found in prehistoric burial mounds.
Jet is generally black or dark brown, and may contain inclusions of pyrite, which may create a brassy, metallic luster. Due to the fact that jet is organic, it may dry out, causing the surface to crack, so take care in any jet pieces that you may own.