Gems TV

JASPER

Jasper is an opaque and fine grained variety of Chalcedony Quartz. It is typically found in red, yellow, brown or green colours and generally has spots. Its name comes from the Latin word for Jasper “iaspis”, meaning “spotted stone”, which probably also referred to the other types of Chalcedony Quartz.

Jasper is normally cut as cabochons and has traditionally been used as a gemstone for jewellery such as brooches, earrings, necklaces, pendants, intaglios (a gem carved in negative relief) and cameos (a gem carved in positive relief).

Legends and lore

Jasper was a favourite amulet gem in ancient times and is referenced in Greek, Hebrew, Assyrian and Latin literature. For example, Jasper is one of “the stones of fire” (Ezekiel 28:13-16) that were given to Moses at the mountain of God and said to possess the power to summon angels. Moses then decreed them mounted into a sacred breastplate for his brother, the high priest Aaron (Exodus 28:15-30). In the New Testament (Revelations 21:19), Jasper is one of the twelve gemstones set in the foundations of the city walls of Jerusalem. As compiled by Andreas, Bishop of Caesurae, one of the earliest writers to tie the Apostles with the symbolism of the twelve gems of Jerusalem, Jasper was denoted for the Apostle St. Peter.

In some Native American cultures, Jasper is considered to be the symbolic blood of the earth, and was thus thought to be one of the best gems for connecting with the deep, stabilizing energies of the earth.

According to crystal healers, Jasper is an intensely protective gem, acting to stabilise the aura and rid it of dysfunctional energy thereby facilitating relaxation, contentment and compassion.

Just the facts

Quartz gemstones are commonly separated into two groups based on the size of their individual crystals. The macrocrystalline Quartz (large crystal) group includes many popular gemstones such as Amethyst, Ametrine and Citrine. Cryptocrystalline Quartz includes species whose individual crystals are too small to be easily distinguished. Apart from being a variety within the group, Chalcedony is also a catchall term to describe cryptocrystalline Quartz and includes Jasper as well as many other gems that have been coveted since antiquity.