Jasper – Colors, Shapes, and Sizes
Jasper is an extremely interesting mineral that has been known to man for thousands of years. In fact, there is even evidence of prehistoric man using jasper as weapons or tools in Ethiopia, perhaps millions of years ago.
Jasper is very common and is found throughout the world. Many ancient people knew about this mineral and used it mainly as ornamental jewelry, seals for politicians, or to create everyday items such as bowls or small cases.
Jasper comes in many sizes and can sometimes be found in big chunks usually near quartz veins. Jasper’s most common hues are red, brown, and yellow; however, it can sometimes be found with plenty of mineral inclusions such as Hematite or Goethite. When other minerals are present, Jasper takes on wild and attractive hues and attributes. For instance, Hematite can form rings or stripes throughout the Jasper similar to Agate, and spots can occur giving it a leopard type or tiger type attribute.
Today, Jasper is used as ornamental jewelry and it can be a great way to be in fashion since this mineral goes well with today’s sensibilities and styles. Many times, jasper is used in bracelets, earrings, pendants, and rings. Jasper can also be sewn onto fabrics such as handbags or even shoes. If you are looking for an attractive gemstone with plenty of styles, color, and variety, check out Jasper.
How and Where is Jasper Formed and Found?
Jasper is a mineral formed from quartz. Quartz is the most common type of mineral that makes up about 12% of the earth’s crust. While jasper is extremely common, it is also extremely beautiful and has been used since ancient times for ornamental jewelry, as well as bowls and other necessities.
Jasper is a grainy, fibrous mineral type. It is called cryptocrystalline because it is made up of very small crystals which cannot be seen with the naked eye. Jasper’s scientific composition is Si02 and its crystals are formed in a hexagonal shape. Jasper is extremely common and found pretty much in every region of the world.
Jasper is mainly known to come in three different colors, yellow, brown, and red. Besides these colors, they can also come as striped or spotted. Usually, to make these types of varieties other inclusions are needed such as Hematite and Goethite. Because of the numerous regions that Jasper is found, as well as the varieties that it is able to be formed in, many times Jasper is named after the region or its attributes.
The Uses of Jasper
Jasper is an extremely beautiful stone, while it is a very common gemstone and found throughout the world, it does come in many different varieties and colors. Jasper has been used for thousands of years and even as tools and weapons during prehistoric times. However, today Jasper is used for its beauty and wonderful varieties.
Jasper is a type of quartz and is extremely common, found in many parts of the world. Jasper is microcrystalline quartz and is made from very small grains. It is usually translucent or opaque and comes in a variety of colors such as red, brown, and yellow.
Jasper is primarily used today as ornamental jewelry; however, it comes in large enough sizes that it can also be used to create sculptures and small snuff or tobacco boxes.
Jasper can sometimes be spotted or striped. This occurs by other minerals being included in the stone including Hematite and Goethite. For the most part, the Jasper will be named either by the region that it comes from or the attributes it has, for instance, Tigerstripe.
Jasper has been used by man for thousands of years and some of the more common uses included ceramics such as bowls, seals for leaders and politicians, and amulets that were thought to protect one from evil. In fact, many amulets were found in Egypt with scripture inscribed on the amulet to protect the wearer from death.
Jasper – The History and Origins
Jasper comes in several different colors including red, brown, and yellow; besides these colors, Jasper can include bands within the stone that make it appeared striped or spotted. Many times, Jasper is named for the region and the attributes that are found in the stone. For instance, hematite and goethite are two minerals that are closely associated with Jasper. Jasper is found all over the world and was known to man since the dawn of time, there is actually evidence that man used Jasper as a tool or weapon hundreds of thousands of years ago in Ethiopia.
However, during ancient times, jasper was used mainly as ornamental jewelry, as well as seals and for bowls or boxes. Jasper is generally a hard stone and has a hardness score of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, this means for the most part that this mineral makes a very good stone for jewelry, however, it can be fractured if impacted upon.
During the Middle Ages, the stone of Jasper was used to ward off evil and to make one calm and mentally stable. It is also said to have the medicinal properties of curing kidney disease and digestive problems.
