About Jasper
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Keep reading to discover more about jasper:
- Mineralogy and geology*
- Metaphysical, Spiritual and Healing** Properties***
- Common Associations
Mineralogy and Geology*
Jasper is an opaque, fine-grained, dense variety of chalcedony (cryptocrystalline quartz). Jasper can be many different colors due to the inclusion of fine iron oxides and hydroxides and other minerals. It is often associated with banded iron formations. Visit the chalcedony page for its mineralogical properties.
Jasper is formed by deposition from low-temperature, silica-rich waters percolating through cracks and fissures in other rocks, incorporating a variety of minerals in the process. It is found worldwide, wherever cryptocrystalline quartz occurs. Its name is from the Greek iaspis.
Individual types of jasper are named for their color, their source locale, or by their appearance. Some types usually at Taos Rockers include:
Apache Kid Jasper - named for its source local, an area just south of the Apache Kid Wilderness in New Mexico.
Bumble Bee Jasper - irregular banded yellow and black jasper, often from volcanic rocks. The yellow color may be caused by the presence of sulfur or arsenic. Don't chew on this stone!
Dragonsblood Jasper - a trade name for green and red jasper, somewhat similar to bloodstone (agate), but more opaque.
K2 "Jasper" - not really a jasper, this stone is actually a fine-grained granite that contains small spherical "blooms" of blue azurite crystals. When cut and polished, it can look like someone used a colored pen to make the blue spots - not!
Kiwi Jasper - named for color and texture, it has a color reminiscent of the fruit.
Mookaite Jasper - a "polychrome" jasper from Australia. Its colors tend to be in the cream-tan-pink-brown range.
Ocean Jasper - a distinctive type of "orbicular" jasper from Madagascar, it contains spherical structures.
Polychrome Jasper - a fancy name for multi-colored jasper.
Unakite "Jasper" - not a jasper at all, it's an altered granitic rock. Its pink-brown and green colors result from the presence of altered potassium feldspar (pink), epidote (green), often with quartz present.
Willow Creek Jasper - named for its source locale, Willow Creek, about 15 miles north of Eagle, Idaho. Distinctive coloring and patterns.
Zebra Jasper - used in the trade for any striped kind of jasper, ranging from black and white to other neutral shades.
Metaphysical, Spiritual and Healing** Properties***
Jasper is known as the supreme nurturer, reminding us that we are here to bring joy to others as well as to ourselves. Jasper assists with balancing yin-yang energies and the mundane with the spiritual. It helps to align the chakras.
It soothes by stabilizing the aura, helping to eliminate negativity and dysfunctional energies.
In crystal grids, jasper can be used wherever quartz or chalcedony is used when a gentler form of the energy is desired.
Additional properties are associated with particular types and colors of jasper:
Blue - works with the throat and third-eye chakras, helps with spiritual issues.
Brown - an "earthing" stone, assisting with grounding and relieving environmental stress. Base and earth star chakras.
Green - works with the heart chakra, helps with physical healing issues.
Mookaite - helps to balance inner and outer experiences.
Picture - the markings look like a picture; the picture has significance to the beholder helping stimulate creative visualization and revelation of hidden hopes, fears and thoughts.
Purple - works with the crown chakra
Red - works with the base chakra, helps with overall health and strong boundaries.
Unakite - a stone of vision, assisting balance between the emotion and spiritual realms. Placed on the third eye chakra, it is said to enhance visualization and psychic “seeing.” It It is also known to facilitate re-birthing by gently releasing conditions that inhibit inner growth.
Yellow - works with the solar plexus chakra, helping to bring energy and joy.
Common Associations
Chakra - variable, depends on color
Numerology - vibrates to the number 6
Planets - variable, depends on color
Zodiac - Leo
Birthstone - the mystical birthstone for October
Wedding Anniversary - 42nd
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* Mineralogical information is from mindat.org
** Always consult with your medical professional for any physical or long-term healing issues.
*** Metaphysical properties come from:
Love Is in the Earth (1995) Melody, Earth-Love Publishing House, 726 pp.
The Crystal Bible, A Definitive Guide to Crystals (2003) Judy Hall, Walking Stick Press, 399 pp.
Crystal Muse (2017) Heather Askinosie and Timmi Jandro, Hay House, 285 pp.
Crystal Gridwork (2018) Kiera Fogg, Weiser Books, 128 pp.