Jet (lignite)

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Sample of jet
Pendant in Jet, Magdalenian, Marsoulas MHNT
Hallstatt culture bracelets made from jet and bronze, unearthed at Magdalenenberg
Mourning jewellery: jet brooch, 19th century

Jet is a type of lignite, a precursor to coal, and is considered to be a minor gemstone. Jet is not considered a true mineral, but rather a mineraloid as it has an organic origin, being derived from decaying wood under extreme pressure.

The English noun "jet" derives from the French word for the same material: jaiet.[1] Jet is either black or dark brown, but may contain pyrite inclusions,[2] which are of brassy colour and metallic lustre. The adjective "jet-black", meaning as dark a black as possible, derives from this material.


Jet is a product of high pressure decomposition of wood from millions of years ago, commonly the wood of trees of the family Araucariaceae. Jet is found in two forms, hard and soft. Hard jet is the result of the carbon compression and salt water; soft jet is the result of the carbon compression and fresh water.

The jet found at Whitby, in England, is of early Jurassic (Toarcian) age, approximately 182 million years old.[3][4] Whitby Jet is the fossilized wood from species similar to the extant Chile pine or Monkey Puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana).[5]


Jet has been used in Britain since the Neolithic period,[6] but the earliest known object is a 10,000 BC model of a damsel fly larva, from Baden-Württemberg, Germany.[6] It continued in use in Britain through the Bronze Age where it was used for necklace beads.[6] During the Iron Age jet went out of fashion until the early third century AD in Roman Britain. The End of Roman Britain marked the end of jet's ancient popularity[6] until, despite sporadic use in the Anglo-Saxon and Viking periods, the later Medieval period. Jet saw a massive resurgence during the Victorian era.[6]

Roman use[edit]

Whitby jet was a popular material for jewellery in Roman Britain from the third century onward. It was used in rings, hair pins, beads, bracelets, bangles, necklaces and pendants;[6] many of which are visible in the Yorkshire Museum. There is no evidence for Roman jet working in Whitby itself,[6] rather it was transferred to Eboracum (modern York) where considerable evidence for jet production has been found.[7] The collection of jet at this time was based on beachcombing rather than quarrying.[6]

Jet cameo depicting a Medusa in the Yorkshire Museum

In the Roman period it saw use as a magical material, frequently used in amulets and pendants because of its supposed protective qualities and ability to deflect the gaze of the evil eye.[8] Pliny the Elder suggests that "the kindling of jet drives off snakes and relieves suffocation of the uterus. Its fumes detect attempts to stimulate a disabling illness or a state of virginity."[9] and has been referenced by other Ancient writers including Solinus[10] and Galen.

Jet objects were exported from Eboracum all over Roman Britain and into Europe.[6]

Around the Rhine some jet bracelets from the period have been found that feature grooves with gold inserts.[11]

Victorian use[edit]

A large piece of jet from Whitby

Jet as a gemstone was fashionable during the reign of Queen Victoria, during which the Queen wore Whitby jet as part of her mourning dress, mourning the death of Prince Albert.[5] Jet was associated with mourning jewellery in the 19th century because of its sombre colour and modest appearance, and it has been traditionally fashioned into rosaries for monks.

In some jewellery designs of the period jet was combined with cut steel[12]

20th Century[edit]



Jet is very easy to carve but it is difficult to create fine details without breaking so it takes an experienced lapidary to execute more elaborate carvings.

Jet has a Mohs hardness ranging between 2.5 to 4 and a specific gravity of 1.30 to 1.34. The refractive index of jet is approximately 1.66. The touch of a red-hot needle should cause jet to emit an odor similar to coal.[13]

Authenticating jet[edit]

Although now much less popular than in the past, authentic jet jewels are valued by collectors.

Unlike black glass, which is cool to the touch, jet is not cool, due to its lower thermal conductivity.

Anthracite (hard coal) and Ebonite (hardened rubber) are superficially similar to fine jet, and have been used to imitate it. These imitations are not always easy to distinguish from real jet. When rubbed against unglazed porcelain, true jet will leave a chocolate brown streak.

The microstructure of jet, which strongly resembles the original wood, can be seen under 120× or greater magnification.


  1. ^ Oxford English Dictionary (2nd edition) 1989, Oxford, Oxford University Press
  2. ^ Pye, K. (1985) Electron microscope analysis of zoned dolomite rhombs in the Jet Rock Formation (Lower Toarcian) of the Whitby area, U.K., Geological Magazine, volume 122, pp. 279–286, Cambridge University Press, doi:10.1017/S0016756800031496
  3. ^ Cope, J. C. W. (2006) Jurassic: the returning seas - plate 26 and page 339 of Brenchley, P. J. and Rawson P. F. (editors) (2006) The Geology of England and Wales, 2nd edition, London, The Geological Society
  4. ^ "Jurassic timescale". Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  5. ^ a b Oliver, N., 2012, A History of Ancient Britain, Phoenix Paperback, ISBN 978-0753828861
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Allason-Jones, 1996, Roman Jet in the Yorkshire Museum, York: Yorkshire Museum. pp. 8–11 ISBN 978-0905807171
  7. ^ Ottaway, P., 2004, Roman York, Tempus: Stroud ISBN 978-0752429168
  8. ^ Henig, M., 1984, Religion in Roman Britain, London, BT Batsford LTD ISBN 978-0312670597
  9. ^ Pliny the Elder. Natural History (trans. Bostock, J., Riley, H. T.). London: Taylor and Francis. 1855. Chapter 36
  10. ^ Caius Julius Solinus (2013). "DE MIRABILIBUS MUNDI CAPITULA VII - XXIV". Retrieved 2013-10-31. 
  11. ^ Johns, Catherine (1996). The Jewellery of Roman Britain Celtic and classical Traditions. Routledge. pp. 120–121. ISBN 9780415516129. 
  12. ^ Clifford, Anne (1971). Cut-Steel and Berlin Iron Jewellery. Adams & Dart. pp. 21–22. ISBN 9780239000699. 
  13. ^ Richard T. Liddicoat, Jr. Handbook of Gem Identification 1989 GIA press, 12 ed. pg 192

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