History & Introduction

Jasper belongs to the varieties of quartz. It is an opaque and impure variety of silicon dioxide (SiO2). The name 'jasper' is derived from the Greek word for 'spotted stone' that refers to its typical multicolored, striped, spotted or flamed appearance and in Latin iaspidem. Jasper stone is one of the oldest recognized gemstones, and was very popular in ancient times. Written records are found in Greek, Hebrew, Assyrian, Persian and Latin prints, as well as in the Bible. However, in antiquity what was referred as jasper gemstone was completely a different stone from what we call jasper today; it means the green transparent varieties. Jasper stone is one of the stones related to the Sun Sign of Virgo and the birthstone for the month of October.

Different varieties and names for jasper are found; they make reference to its patterns or to its locations of origin. Jasper can form in almost any color. Jasper is mainly taken as a chalcedony, still some of the scientists are there, which classify jasper as a separate type because of its distinctive grainy structure.

Jasper gemstone is a dense substance, up to twenty percent of which is made of foreign materials. Rarely, we find jasper stone uniform because of these trace impurities. The patterns of jasper are formed during the process of mineral consolidation, determined by the exact flow and deposition of silica-rich sediments or volcanic ash. With the original deposits of silica materials naturally form with cracks and fissures after deposition, they are later filled with other minerals, like iron oxide, manganese dioxide, metal oxide and even organic matter. The specific appearance of the final substance is because of the final settling of these materials.

In general the jasper patterns includes orbital rings, interesting marbling, veining, streaks, flaming, banding and spots. The names tend to be very confusing, however mainly they are used only by the keen collectors. Very rare we could find uniform color jasper. Maximum jasper found are opaque and they exhibit various color patterns. The foreign minerals it carries form the colors, appearance, streaks and spots. More than fifty varieties of jasper are there, however the most prized jasper gemstones is a combination of red and green patterns. Veins of jasper are rarely seen in the igneous rocks, like in granite. Jaspers are formed in a minimum of two steps. Tiny particles settle first in layers, with this the layers are bonded together with a solution of silica. Jasper may go through many more steps in its formation.

Many jaspers are named for the region where they are found or for their color patterns. Such as Kambaba, Picture, Biggs, Red, Landscape, Brecciated Mookiate, Frog Skin, Zebra, Mookite, Brecciated, Lizard Skin, Picasso, Artistic, Exotica, Succor, Wilow Creek, Dalmation, Ghost's Eye, Dallasite, Cobra, Dendritic, Stone Canyon, Plume, Bamboo, Polychrome, Desert, Ocean, Fancy, Orbical, Poppy, Montana Bark, Snake Skin, Owyhee, Spiderman, Starburst, Leopard Skin, Rainforest or Rhyolite, Morgan Hill Poppy, Burro Jasper.

Recognise - Jasper belongs to the quartz group with a chemical composition composed mainly of silicon dioxide. Up to 20% percent of fine dense jasper can be composed of foreign materials, naturally clay, hematite, calcite and pyrolusite. It possess noticeably grainy structure compared with other forms of chalcedony, which some scientists also put jasper into its own individual group within the quartz family. Jasper possess microcrystalline structure that means its trigonal crystals is only seen under high magnification. It is easily distinguished from many other materials, which are alike by its brilliant hardness and lack of cleavage.

Availability - Jasper gemstones is available in many locations around the world. Jasper is naturally found in veins and cracks in volcanic rocks Some of the most notable deposits are found in the areas of India, Australia, Madagascar, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Canada, Venezuela, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Uruguay, and the United States of America.

Usages - Jasper is famous as an ornamental stone. Jasper stone is carved into ornamental objects, as well as is used as an inexpensive gemstone in jewelry, maximum in beads in earrings, necklaces and bracelets. It is favorite among amateur gem cutters because of its diverse and fairly inexpensive nature. This gemstone is used in making all kinds of decorative objects as well as jewelry. The gemstone is very beautiful gemstone that many people like to collect.

Buying Guide

Color - Jasper gemstone is found in every colors, spotted, mainly striped or flamed. The different variation of trade names specify composition. In case of color no recommendation is used, traces of iron oxide is main cause of the red color and is one of the most common colors. Yellow and brown colors are also available commonly. Stones that are unicolored are extremely rare. The overall value is defined with the saturation of color.

Clarity and Lustre - Jasper stone in clarity is always opaque, in the case of thin slices too. It is popular to take an excellent polish and display a fine, vitreous to dull luster.

Cut and Shape - Naturally, the jasper gems are cut en cabochon, which mainly have very low domes. Jasper stones are found in huge sizes and is also found in every shape that includes hearts, rounds, pears, trillions, ovals, cushions and other shapes. The gemstone is even used to make ornamental gemstone carvings as well as stone mosaics. During cutting care should be taken as banded jasper tends to separate along the layers.

Treatment - Jasper stone is not mainly treated or improved in whatever ways. There are stones that are dyed to imitate other gems or even other jasper varieties.

Gemological Characteristics:

Chemical Formula	SiO2; Silicon dioxide
Composition	Silicon dioxide, usually with impurities of iron oxides or organic substances.
Color	Brown, yellow, orange, red, green, or blue. May also refer to any form of opaque Chalcedony in all colors. Jasper is usually multicolor or banded.
Streak	White
Hardness	6.5 - 7
Crystal System	Hexagonal
Refractive Index	1.54 (approximate)
Density	From 2.58 to 2.91
Cleavage	Not present
Transparency	Opaque
Double Refraction / Birefringence	Not available
Lustre	Dull, vitreous
Fluorescence	Not present
Specific Gravity	From 2.7 to 2.7
Fracture	Conchoidal
Tenacity	Brittle
Rock Type	Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic
Complex Tests	Dissolves in hydrofluoric acid.
Popularity (1-4)	1
Prevalence (1-3)	1
Demand (1-3)	1
Mineral Class	Quartz (Chalcedony)

Classification:

• Brown Jasper
• Yellow Jasper
• Orange Jasper
• Red Jasper
• Green Jasper
• Blue Jasper
• Multicolored Jasper