Jasper is a variety of chalcedony, occurring in colors such as: red, brown, pink, yellow, green, gray, white, blue and purple.  It is opaque and fine grained containing up to 20% mineral impurities.  The variety of jasper depends on the minerals and foreign material contained.  Jasper can appear in shades of various colors with a variety of patterns. Patterns can arise from the formation process and from volcanic flow during the stones development, yielding bands or swirls in the rock.  Egyptian jasper is a brown jasper.  Picture jaspers simultaneously exhibit several pattern variations resulting in what appear to be scenes or images in a cut section.  Spherical flow patterns produce a distinctive circluar appearance within the stone, as in porcelain jaspers. Complex combinations of impurities produce wild color variations as in McDermitt jasper. Healed fractures produce brecciated jasper.

Jasper is a hard stone with a mohs rating of 6.5 to 7.0.

§         Official state gem of Massachusetts

§         Mystical birthstone for the month of October

§         Zodiac birthstone for Virgo and Leo

§         Gemstone of the Rooster from the Chinese Zodiac

Myths and Therapeutic Properties

Historically the word jasper means “spotted stone”.  In past Native American Indian culture, jasper was used to bring about rain and is still refered to a the “great rain bringer”.  Due to the many varieties of Jasper the mythical properties are vast and depend on the variety of the stone.  Yellow jasper is thought to help clear the mind.  Brown jasper aids in keeping a person grounded as well as assist in deeper concentration.  Jasper in general is believed to heal insanity, bring out evil spirits in persons possessed by demons, aid in overcoming jealousy, and bring about truth and monetary gain.  Therapeutically jasper has been used to protect against pain during childbirth, cure snake and insect bites, calm a queasy stomach, aid hearing disorders, and calm emphysema.  Red jasper is reputed to protect the liver.

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