Jasper

When I opened my Etsy shop, JoyasLindas, in 2010, I didn’t know much about the gemstone beads I was using beyond what I thought was pretty or interesting. Over time though, I have enjoyed learning a little more about my materials. The endless variety and beauty of the stones that come out of the earth never cease to amaze me, and none of these stones is more amazingly varied or beautiful than jasper.

      For an interactive version of this Treasury List, click here.

Jasper has been known to humans since ancient times. It has been used for millennia to make tools, statues, bowls, and seals for nobles and leaders.

                   
    1400 BC Egypt Red Jasper                    1000 BC  Desert Jasper Bowls                       1350 BC Egypt Yellow Jasper

                                                                                  

                   

   2700 BC Sumerian Adze Head                 500 BC Persian Seal Green Jasper                 300 AD Roman Blood Jasper  

Heart Amulet, Egypt, 1300 BC

In addition to these pragmatic and artistic uses, just about every culture known to man has attributed magical powers to jasper. It has been used for millennia to make charms and amulets to protect the wearer from all sorts of evil. Ancient Egyptian jasper amulets have been found with inscriptions claiming to protect the wearer even from death.

Roman Ring Stone, 1st C AD, Red Jasper

Greek warriors carried jasper into battle for protection and courage. Holding a piece of jasper during labor and childbirth was believed in some cultures to help relieve pain and guard both baby and mother from harm. 

Peridot Jasper & Coral

In the gemstone lore of today, jasper is known as a grounding and protective stone. It is supposed to provide constant, slowly growing energy to aid the wearer in bringing about change without causing upheaval. It is known as a nurturing stone and has often been worn by healers to benefit others.

Dragon's Blood Jasper

As noted above, it was once used by warriors to foster strength, loyalty and courage to face battle. Today, it is supposed to help wearers stay focused on their goals and is considered to be a good stone for those whose work is to seek justice.

Red Jasper

Jasper is sometimes considered to be a form of chalcedony, but it is scientifically more accurate to classify it in a group called chert due to its hard crystalline silica (SiO₂) structure. It can develop as nodules inside other rock or as rock layers.

Pink Fossil Jasper

The silica that forms jasper and other cherts such as flint and agate comes from solution in water, biological sediments such as small marine fossils, or lava flows and volcanic ash. At right is an example of jasper that contains thousands of tiny aquatic fossils. 

Desert Jasper

Red Creek Jasper

Once the silica is deposited it hardens into jasper in the presence of pressure, heat and water over time.  The smooth flowing patterns in some jaspers develop from the movement of hot water or wind.  At left are two examples of smoothly layered jaspers from MDPT shops. 

Poppy Jasper 

Brecciated Jasper 

The jagged patterns in others result when the original sediment is crushed or ground and more sediment or magma is infused into the pieces. At right are examples of fragmented or brecciated jaspers found in MDPT shops.

More Fossil Jasper 

Jasper can be composed of as much as 20% of such foreign matter, which explains why its colors, patterns and general appearance vary so widely. Here is yet another type of fossil jasper.

Zebra or Mud-Veined Jasper

The Greek word for jasper means "spotted stone." Naming Jaspers can sometimes be problematic.  The same jasper stone may be given several different names—for example Zebra Jasper can also be called Mud-Veined Jasper.

Snakeskin Jasper

More Snakeskin Jasper

Snakeskin Jasper is also called Aqua Terra Jasper due to its combination of teal sea blue or green with earthy beige and brown. Despite the great difference in color, the examples at left are both considered to be the same type of jasper.

Many jaspers look quite similar to each other as well, and sometimes two jasper stones cut from the very same slab may appear quite different. Below is another Treasury List that shows jasper variations.

For an interactive version of this Treasury List, click here.

In general, the various types of jasper get their names in two different ways: from the location where they are found and from the appearance of the stone itself. Examples of the place named jaspers include Kambaba Jasper, Silver Creek Jasper, and Mookaite Jasper.

Mookaite Jasper

Kambaba Jasper

Silver Creek Jasper

Jaspers named for the stone’s appearance include Autumn Jasper, Dalmatian Jasper, Red Jasper, and Blue Sky Jasper.

  

Autumn Jasper

Blue Sky and Red Jasper

                                                       

                                                                         Dalmatian Jasper

At present there are over 70 jasper items offered at my shop, JoyasLindas, and still more at other Maryland-based Etsy shops.  Over 250 of theses shops are represented by the MDPT.  I hope you’ll use this opportunity to look them over.

Brecciated Jasper

Mixed Jaspers, Agate & Lava

              Picture Jasper & Quartz


If you’d like to do further exploration into the physical science and history of jasper, I found these sources quite helpful:

http://www.gemstoneeducation.com/Jasper_2.htm

http://www.preciousstonesofthebible.com/

http://metmuseum.org

If you’re interested in the fascinating metaphysical lore associated with jasper, here are some places to start:

http://www.charmsoflight.com/jasper-healing-properties.html

http://www.gemstonegifts.com/stones/jasper.htm
http://www.gemstonesadvisor.com/gemstone-meanings/jasper-stone-meaning/

Red & Gray Jasper

Green Line Jasper

Snakeskin Jasper