Opaque, patterned and endlessly varied. The steady one you keep in a pocket.
The aesthetic
Jasper is chalcedony made opaque by a heavy load of other minerals, which is exactly what gives it its patterns: reds and yellows from iron, greens from chlorite, and the landscapes, orbs and brecciated fragments that get named after whatever they resemble. It is tough, takes a high polish and holds a shape well, so it turns up as palm stones and carvings more than as crystals.
The dynamic
Jasper is traditionally described as a nurturing, steadying stone, associated with grounding, endurance and protection through a long stretch rather than a sudden one.
Some variations
- red jasper
- picture jasper
- ocean jasper
- kambaba jasper
- brecciated jasper
- mookaite
- dalmatian jasper