It was first discovered in the Mary Ellen Iron Mine in St. Louis County, Minnesota in the early 1900's.
Mary Ellen Jasper is a fossil or a stromatolite. Stromatolites are the oldest known fossils, dating back more than 3 billion years. Mary Ellen Jasper is believed to be over 1.88 billion years old from the Precambrian period.
Basically stromatolites are prokaryotes (cyanobacteria-sort of an ancient cousin to algae) that thrived in warm aquatic environments and built reefs much the same way as coral does today. They are the oldest living organisms on the planet, and are believed to be the first living organisms on Earth.
Metaphysical Properties Of Mary Ellen Jasper: Mary Ellen Jasper, like all Picture Jaspers, is said to help bring balance to your life. It is said to bring luck, courage, and organizational skills.