Jasper stone: properties and who it suits according to zodiac sign

Even cave people made weapons and simple tools from jasper. Deposits of jasper often come to the surface, that is, it was an accessible material for our ancestors. The fragments of this stone have sharp edges that do not become dull for quite a long time. Over time, man learned to process this mineral. Jasper was used in the manufacture of amulets, jewelry, symbols of power and faith. Magical and healing properties were attributed to such products.

Origin of the name jasper stone

The history of the origin of jasper has not been fully explored. Many peoples called this stone in their own way, but none of them are in tune.

It is believed that the names of the stone in different nations come from the Greek language, from the word Yatro, which translates as “I heal”, “I heal”.

According to another version, the name comes from the Chinese name for jade stone, which is pronounced “Yushi”.

• In eastern countries, jasper was called Ieshme.
• In Persia the stone was called Jasper.
• In Afghanistan, jasper was called Yashai.
• The Greek name of the stone is Jasper, which is absolutely identical to its name in English - Jasper, and is literally translated into Russian as Jasper.

When did the mineral begin to be mined and used?

People have known about what jasper is since Neolithic times. In those distant times, people valued this stone for its high hardness. Tools, spearheads and arrowheads were made from it. This fact is confirmed by numerous finds of archaeologists discovered during excavations in the areas where Neanderthal sites were located.

Like most semi-precious stones, jasper began to be used in jewelry when the art of processing this mineral reached a fairly high level. The stone was considered magical and sacred. For this reason, amulets, talismans, and symbols of religion were made from it. Jasper decorations began to appear on the clothes of rulers and priests.

In the Middle Ages, jasper was used to decorate temples and churches. In Europe, the mineral was considered a symbol of modesty, fortitude, and courage. That is why jasper was worn by monks and priests. The active use of this semi-precious stone in Russia began only in the 18th century, when the gem became especially popular as a durable and beautiful facing material.

It was used to decorate palace halls and rooms; magnificent furniture was inlaid with jasper. The paintings made from the thinnest jasper plates were real masterpieces. In all centuries, Ural jasper has been recognized as the highest quality. In the 19th century, it was considered the unsurpassed leader among all minerals mined in the world.

Jasper mineral: properties, composition and description, textures

Jasper photo
People have long paid attention to this multi-colored mineral. The characteristic of its appearance lies in the name itself. The meaning of jasper is “Jasper” translated from Greek means “variegated”. And indeed, looking at the gem, what strikes you first is the variety of shades. This play of colors is easy to explain.

What is jasper?

It belongs to a metamorphic rock, which is a whole set of minerals such as quartz, chalcedony and others. Under the influence of high temperatures, the crystals are compressed, and the presented rock is formed, which has an unusual color.

The ancient name of jasper fully characterizes the mineral. In Rus', a variegated gem was called “speckled.” Large deposits were discovered in the Urals and Altai Territory. Almost immediately the breed found application in interior decoration and the production of household products.

Giant blocks made it possible to create unusual works of art. An excellent example is the Queen of Vases, located in the Hermitage. Made from a green-wavy gemstone. The giant bowl reaches 5 meters in diameter and weighs about 19 tons.

Due to the heterogeneous composition of impurities, the stone is characterized by a variety of shades. The degree of variegation of a mineral depends on the presence of impurities.

The inclusions create unusual patterns and make the structure of the mineral heterogeneous. Almost monochromatic gems of this type are very rare.

The silicon rock that forms the basis of the mineral is quite strong. Jasper stones are opaque.

Chemical composition of jasper

The main part is silicon oxide (SiO2), sometimes the content of this component reaches 95%. Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and iron oxide (Fe2O3) are found in different proportions, reaching 10-15%. Calcium oxide (CaO) within 5%. The remaining components constitute a mass fraction of less than 1%.

Jasper textures

The mineral has a large number of possible textures, we list the main ones:

• curled;
• massive;
• banded;
• breccia;
• spotted;
• speckled;
• tape.

Each texture is good in its own way and can have different prices. It is worth noting that the variegation of the stone is almost obligatory; monotonous specimens are very rare. Of course, in some cases they are more expensive than variegated ones due to their rarity.

Physics and chemistry of the breed

Jasper is not a mineral. This is a unique rock that consists of quartz, chalcedony, and various minerals. It is these minerals that give the jasper rock an unimaginable variety of colors.

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Breed characteristics:

• hardness about 7 on the Mohs scale;
• opaque;
• density 2.65 g/cm³.
• chemical composition: SiO2 80-95%; Al2O3 and Fe2O3 up to 15%; CaO 3-6% (etc.).

The texture of the rock can be very different - spotted, flattened, sometimes monochromatic.

Jasper deposits

The most famous deposits of jasper stone are located in India and the USA, but the mineral is also mined in our country.

In Russia, jasper stone is mined in the Urals and Altai.

The geography of gem mining is extensive. The breed from the Ural and Altai deposits is highly valued. Brown jasper is also found on the American continents.

Stone formation

To understand what jasper is, you need to know how the mineral is formed in nature. The basis of the semi-precious stone, which belongs to quartz crystals, is silicon. Any mineral rock that contains quartz grains held together by a flint-chalcedony cement composition can be called jasper.

For a long time, geologists were interested in the origin of jasper, but the peak of study of this amazing mineral occurred in the 18th-19th centuries. There are a huge number of varieties of jasper, and the origin of some of them remains a mystery today.

Scientists have come to the conclusion that high-quality jasper is primarily a volcanic rock. In addition, there are varieties that were formed during the fossilization of ancient marine animals and plants.

Varieties of Jasper stone

Jasper stone photo
We can say that almost any shade of this rock is found: red, blue, white, purple and one of the most common - green. The texture is also uneven.

The following gem groups are distinguished:

1. Homogeneous structure. Expressed in green, red, coffee colors. Sand jasper is often found.
2. Stones with ribbon (stripe) colors. On the cut, stripes of different colors are clearly visible, their width varies from a millimeter to several centimeters.
3. Variegated gems, which are characterized by a variety of textures and inclusions of different types. Streaky, spotted patterns, and landscape shades are widespread. This also includes heliotrope, that is, meat agate, which is a black or dark green mineral with red splashes.

Colors and types of jasper:

• Jasper is an incredibly beautiful stone, its palette is varied and colorful, and various inclusions in the stone make the stone a real natural work of art, for which jasper is so valued. This stone simply cannot be confused with any other.
• Jasper comes in completely different colors and shades, with the exception of bright blue.
• The most common colors of jasper are red and green.
• Blue, orange, white, and purple jasper are also known.
• It is difficult to find plain jasper; almost all stones have inclusions that form patterns. They are so diverse that there is a classification of stones according to the type of pattern.
• Spotted or variegated - the variety of structures of this type of jasper is formed due to the presence of quartz and garnet in the stone.
• Dalmatian Jasper is a variety of variegated jasper, and as the name suggests, resembles the coloration of a Dalmatian.
• Ribbon jasper is the most common type of jasper and has a layered structure. Thanks to its bright and rich colors, this type of jasper resembles a slice of fruit cake.
• Streamline jasper - this type of jasper is named due to its inclusions in the form of streams, the so-called colored trails.
• Wax jasper is a stone of a very noble dark red hue.
• Calico jasper - inclusions in this type of jasper look like veins.
• Brocade jasper has an iridescent, glossy surface. Interestingly, this type of stone can only be found in Crimea.
• Agate jasper - resembles agate, has inclusions of chalcedony.
• Egyptian jasper - has a brick, red color, found on the banks of the Nile River.
• Bloody jasper is bright red in color, with a minimal amount of inclusions. It is also called “meat agate”.
• Leopard jasper - has a characteristic pattern similar to the color of a leopard.

Varieties and photos of jasper

1. Homogeneous jaspers.
2. Banded jaspers.
3. Variegated, distinguished by types of textures.
4. Jasper-shaped quartzites.
5. Irnimite (blue jasper). It is found in the Khabarovsk Territory, in the north-west of the Taikan Range.
6. Jasper-like rocks. Sometimes jasper-like rocks do not contain chalcedony or quartz at all and consist mainly of feldspars (greenish-gray “Kalkan” jasper from the Southern Urals is an altered volcanic tuff with pyroxenes and plagioclases).
7. Jasperoids are siliceous formations, the main rock-forming mineral in which is chalcedony with a microfibrous or spherulitic structure. Jasperoids are characterized by inclusions of hematite and goethite.

Uniform jasper Skull made of striped jasper Irnimite - blue jasper

Application of jasper

Jasper mineral photo
The properties of jasper stone have allowed it to become widely known and popular as an ornamental material. In ancient times, figurines of gods and amulets were made from stone. The gem was also used in the manufacture of tools.

Unprocessed jasper is not as attractive. In order for the gem to acquire a marketable appearance, careful work is necessary. The origin of jasper explains the presence of a high degree of density and hardness. Processing the mineral is quite complex, but the resulting products are famous for their strength and are practically scratch-resistant.

The gem, considered semi-precious, is popular among jewelers. Entire sets of jewelry are made from it - earrings, beads, rings set in precious metals.

Landscape jasper is also used in the production of decorative household items. The result is beautiful boxes, candlesticks, clocks, vases and other items. Variegated rock, including wax jasper, is also used for interior decoration.

Chohua jasper is highly valued by jewelers, its appearance reminiscent of the patterns of Chinese and Japanese engravings. The unique landscapes on the surface of the gem allow it to be used both as an interior decoration and as jewelry.

It is almost impossible to find fakes. Prices for products are affordable and accessible to many. The cost of jewelry and household items depends on the type of mineral and the complexity of the work.

It is worth adding that the color of the stone will always be individual, which is important. When purchasing a product with a bright stone or gray jasper, you can be sure of its uniqueness.

Famous objects and structures made of jasper

Some products made from this mineral simply stun the imagination with their colossal sizes. Their fame once again emphasizes the special attitude of mankind towards jasper - not just as a building material, but as a cult material, worthy of kings, leaders and gods. The most famous places in the world were also decorated with it:

• The Jasper Emperor is the world's largest Buddha statue, carved entirely from a single piece of the mineral weighing 261 tons in 1995. She was listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Its dimensions: height 7.95 m, width 6.88 m, thickness 4.1 m.
• Queen Vaz (aka the Big Kolyvan Vase) is a vase carved from a whole piece of gray-green jasper. The weight of the product is 19 tons, and the large diameter of the vase is 5.04 m.
• When decorating the Mausoleum of V.I. Lenin in Moscow, Orc landscape jasper was used.
• The columns of the famous Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, were carved from this mineral.

How to wear jasper jewelry

The mineral is included in such jewelry as earrings, rings, beads, pendants, brooches.

Combined with precious metals (usually silver), bright stones such as blood jasper will perfectly complement your everyday outfit.

The mineral can be safely combined with emerald, agate or sapphire. But it is better to avoid wearing a multi-colored gem together with a diamond, pearl, moonstone or ruby.

Jewelry with variegated gems is suitable for almost all women. Well-chosen colors of the stone will be a wonderful addition to the style of its owner.

The following colors of the mineral will look most favorable:

• For women of the spring type, owners of light flaxen hair, gray or blue eyes and peach skin, a gem of cool shades - blue, green, red - is suitable.
• Girls of the winter type have fairly fair skin and dark hair. They need to choose shiny, polished stones in warm and bright colors.
• For summer girls with blond hair and gray-blue eyes, those with ivory skin, cool-toned minerals are ideal. Pink jasper is especially preferred in this case.
• Representatives of the fair sex, personifying the autumn type, have no restrictions in choosing the color of the stone. For red-haired women with bronze-toned skin, any look will work.

Main deposits

Jasper deposits are found throughout the world. The largest and most famous of them are located in Russia, India, the USA, Egypt, and in some European countries - Germany, France, and the Czech Republic. The most ancient mining sites are concentrated in Egypt and India.

The most famous jasper deposits in our country are located in Altai and the Southern Urals. In the Urals, deposits stretch from north to south. Eight unique types of jasper are mined here:

1. Landscape (variegated, Orsky). Black and brown dendrites of iron oxides resemble shrubs and trees. The gray background of the minerals resembles a foggy, hazy morning sky.
2. Kalininskaya monochromatic, gray-greenish jasper.
3. Koshkuldinskaya ribbon, which has no analogues in the world, with beautiful combinations of thin dark or bright red and crimson, green stripes.
4. Yamskaya streamy dark cherry or fawn color.
5. Malomuinakovskaya ribbon, which has a unique flowing pattern of wide dark green and fawn ribbons.
6. Aumkul landscape jasper of a delicate fawn tone with brownish or black tree-like images.
7. Variegated Urazov jasper.
8. Purple berkutina.

The most unusual variegated varieties are found on Mount Colonel in Orsk.

The healing properties of jasper

Like many rocks, jasper stone can have a healing effect on humans.

The natural variety of shades of stone and the variety of mineral structure have different effects on the body.

Below are the varieties of jasper, differing in shades and medicinal properties:

Red gem of the quartz group - heliotrope. Associated with the human circulatory system. Gives additional strength, helps to concentrate attention on the most important things, without wasting time on trifles. It is believed that the properties of red jasper help cleanse blood vessels, help stop bleeding, and have a beneficial effect on wounds.

Red jasper stone

The green, opaque mineral was previously and is still used to make amulets. Wearing a stone makes a person wiser.

The healing properties are fully manifested for women - young mothers. The healing properties of green jasper make it possible to use it as a strong amulet for babies. Also, jewelry with this stone protects eyesight and eliminates headaches.

Green jasper stone

Blue jasper with dark or light veins is called irnimite. Due to its beauty, it has been an object of magical worship since ancient times; in addition, it was used by magicians for medicinal purposes, eliminating stomach pain.

Blue jasper stone

White jasper is less common than other colored minerals. It is even rarer to find natural white color.

As a rule, it has dark inclusions. Light stones have a positive effect on cardiac activity.

White jasper stone

The healing properties of jasper stone are aimed at getting rid of problems with insomnia; the mineral can bring its owner a feeling of peace and tranquility.

Tormented by nightmares? It is enough to leave a stone at the head of the bed, and awakening in a good mood is guaranteed.

What color is jasper?

These rocks are given their color by the minerals that make up the stone.

• black, red, brown color will be given by oxides and hydroxides of manganese and iron;
• green jasper is given color by chlorites and epidotes;
• blue tones will be introduced by actinolite, glaucophane, riebeckite;
• hematite will give shades of red and pink;
• purple and black jasper received their color from impurities of magnetite or pyrite;
• Pure white jasper is practically never found. There are always inclusions of minerals of other colors;
• red jasper has a brick-red color, with veins, spots, and stripes;
• blue, lilac jasper is irnimite; jasper-shaped rock. Named after the deposit (Ir-Nimiyskoye);
• The gray, greenish-gray rocks of the Kalkan deposit are very good.
• brown and yellow colors are given to the stone by iron oxides and hydroxides.

Informative: Lenin’s sarcophagus is decorated with jasper.

Magical properties of jasper

Mages, sorcerers, and witches fell in love with this stone, believing that with its help they communicate with otherworldly forces.

Jasper stone and its magical properties are an indispensable attribute for performing magical rites and rituals.

The gem was mainly used to achieve the following purposes:

• protection from the evil eye, damage, amulet in case of communication with unpleasant people;
• an amulet for preserving secrets, which was especially revered by representatives of religious cults;
• protecting your home from theft;
• to pacify the aggressive behavior of wild animals.

The magical properties of jasper were also taken into account when carrying out finishing work. Many temples preferred various types of jasper for flooring. It was believed that these actions would protect religious buildings from attacks by outsiders.

A stone can have different effects on humans and the environment depending on its shade and shape. Red gave vitality, green added wisdom.

Jasper stone retains its magical properties when making not only jewelry, but also dishes, candlesticks, and boxes. The mineral is capable of influencing its owner even from a distance, which is what magicians used. Unfortunately, the ritual operations of sorcerers, subjugating the powers of the stone, did not always have noble goals.

And yet the stone is prescribed to have a predominance of strong positive energy. The more the gem is present in the decoration of the house, the more harmonious the life of its inhabitants will be. Family hearth amulets made from jasper protect their owners from envious people and relieve them of anger.

The stars give gifts

Astrologers believe that the patron planets of jasper are Mercury and Jupiter.

The elements of stone are Earth and Air.

Wednesday and Thursday are the days when the effect of jasper on humans intensifies.

On Wednesday, great luck will accompany business people and entrepreneurs. Thursday is the day of Jupiter, the planet of happiness, spirituality and prosperity.

Jasper is suitable for many zodiac signs. His energy is bright and kind. The energy of protection from the evil eye, negativity, and evil eyes.

Jasper products

Whoever gets help from jasper according to their zodiac sign will be told by the color of the rock.

Fire signs will receive great support from red and orange stones.

For Water signs, a gray stone will suit them, or they will have to find blue, the most expensive of the jaspers.

Air signs, wear jewelry made of white, sandy, yellowish stone.

Earth signs - you can benefit from wearing green, brown, brownish stones.

For example, according to the horoscope, Leo is compatible with a red stone.

Jasper stone: who suits it according to their zodiac sign

Jasper and the signs of the zodiac
Jasper extends its properties to the signs of the zodiac almost without restrictions, which is rare.

A talisman made from a variegated gem can be worn by all people without fear. And yet for some it turns out to be the most successful.

We are talking about Virgos. The mineral is traditionally associated with this sign. At the same time, red is the most preferred color for women. Sand jasper is also suitable. It is believed that it helps to get rid of personal problems. For men, the green mineral is more suitable, giving additional vitality and self-confidence.

Who else is jasper suitable for? For Scorpios, these decorations will ensure good health and help attract wealth. Bright red stones will eliminate unnecessary conflicts and help with career advancement.

In relation to Pisces, the gem will provide courage and wisdom. With the help of jewelry made from these stones, it will be much easier to achieve your goals.

Taurus is recommended to use jasper as jewelry in a silver frame. The gem is able to neutralize negative energy directed at the owner. For Taurus women, the best choice is a blood-red gem, which will give an additional boost of energy, relieving fatigue.

For such bright and extraordinary personalities as Sagittarius, a magic stone is indispensable. Blue jasper will help restless Sagittarius to direct the flow of their energy in a creative direction and improve relationships with their environment.

For those born under the sign of Capricorn, a variegated gem will help them achieve success in business endeavors. Although you should avoid stones that are overtly dark in color, such as tortoiseshell jasper.

Aries should avoid jewelry with red jasper, as the stone will only enhance the already irrepressible energy of these people. But products in green shades, on the contrary, will add wisdom and prudence.

Place of Birth

Our Stone Belt has the best deposits of the rock. Connoisseurs and lovers of stones know that the Jasper Belt of the Urals begins near the city of Miass, and stretches in a strip to Magnitogorsk, Orsk and further to the south for hundreds of miles.

The following can boast of painted stones:

• Miass;
• Uchaly;
• Sibay;
• Orsk.

Altai boasts Ridder jasper; red rock is found on the Kola Peninsula. In Crimea (in the spurs of Karadag) different types of jasper are mined.

Ural jasper is older than the Urals itself. It was born from the siliceous silts of the Devonian sea, which splashed where the Stone Belt of Russia was later erected. At that time, Pangea was being formed, and tectonic processes were distorting the face of the still young planet, filling it with magma and lavas. The magma cooled and turned to stone, and in the cauldron of movements of the earth’s crust, a beautiful and always so different motley stone was born.

Ural jasper

Ural jasper is one of the “big three” main gemstones of the Stone Belt (together with malachite and rhodonite). Products made from these stones have already glorified the stone cutters of the Urals in the world.

USSR postage stamp from the “Ural Gems” series.

And nature has endowed other continents with painted stone. There are jasper outcrops in:

• USA;
• France;
• Germany;
• India;
• Japan, and in other countries.

But nature gave the largest deposits of different species of such different breeds to our country.

Sadness: one of the best deposits - Mount Polkovnichya near Orsk - is now private property. Now, if you want to visit a hill that was previously accessible to everyone, you will have to ask permission from the owners...

Caring for jasper jewelry

Products made from the jasper mineral have a high degree of strength. The stone is quite hard.

In order to split it, considerable effort will be required.

But even this gem requires some care, although you won’t have to make any special efforts.

However, when storing jewelry with jasper, you should adhere to the following rules:

• It is better to store products with this colorful stone in a box, having previously wrapped them in a soft cloth;
• you need to try to avoid sudden temperature changes;
• It is best to keep jasper away from cosmetics and perfumes;
• the mineral tolerates sunlight well, but open fire is contraindicated for the stone;
• The stones are cleaned with a soft sponge, you can add a small amount of vinegar to soapy water, then
• After washing, wipe the gem until it shines with a suede cloth;
• It is better not to use cleaning products.

Healing properties

Since its discovery, jasper has been used by healers to treat many ailments. This stone is considered universal, as it fights different types of diseases. The healing properties of the mineral depend on its natural color:

• red samples are responsible for the proper functioning of the female reproductive organs and are used as a means to combat bleeding and diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• the green-colored mineral is responsible for restoring and protecting vision, is used as a painkiller, and also for the prevention and treatment of gastric diseases;
• orange nuggets saturate the body with energy and strength, nutrients, and are responsible for the healthy appearance of the skin;
• white jasper is a rare natural phenomenon; such specimens are responsible for the proper functioning of the heart.

Also read: Hemimorphite - a stone that protects against the evil eye and damage

A stone of any shade helps the digestive organs function properly.

This is interesting! The alchemist Avicenna, known since ancient times, wore jasper on his stomach, in the area where important digestive organs were located, thereby protecting them from ailments.

In lithotherapy, this gem is an effective remedy that relieves insomnia, mental disorders, loss of strength, and frequent depression.

This stone is endowed with anti-inflammatory properties that help in the treatment of infectious diseases of the eyes and genitourinary organs. The mineral helps restore the vital functions of the human body, fighting even serious illnesses.

How to distinguish jasper from a fake

Products made from jasper are very popular. They can be purchased both in specialized stores and on market and supermarket shelves.

Would you say that with such a policy you can easily buy a low-quality product or a fake? You don't have to worry about this, since jasper has a huge advantage over other stones - it can't be counterfeited!

Jasper is a very durable and hard mineral, so its processing is a very painstaking and difficult process that requires the participation of expensive equipment.

Only a professional can do this kind of work. It is simply impractical to counterfeit jasper on a production scale.

Untreated jasper stone is dull and inconspicuous. Patterns and drawings appear on the stone only after special processing and polishing.

Therefore, when purchasing jasper, pay attention to the clarity and brightness of this pattern. If the stone does not have shine, then most likely it is simply a poor-quality work of the master, and not a fake.

Blue jasper itself is used to fake turquoise. You can also confuse green jasper with stones such as jade, jadeite, serpentine, and blue jasper with amazonite.

Sophisticated scammers can pass off products made of plastic, acrylic and glass as jasper, which do not possess the magical and healing properties of jasper, but it is very easy to distinguish a fake:

Plastic fake

According to its properties, plastic is a soft material. It is enough to expose the decoration to heat. Plastic will definitely deform, but real stone will not.

An easier way is to hold the product in your hand; the temperature of the plastic will quickly reach body temperature, but the jasper will remain cold for some time.

Fake acrylic

This material does not have any of the properties of jasper, so no matter what the product is exposed to, you will easily understand the value of this purchase.

Glass fakes

Glass crumbles and has characteristic fragments upon impact, and also has a higher transparency rate.

Also, jasper is a heavy stone and the weight of the product is a primary sign.

The price of jasper products depends not only on the size and associated materials, but also on the place of origin and pattern, so sellers are more likely to fake the history of jasper than the stone itself.

Jasper stone. Properties and origin

Properties of jasper

There are few gems on earth as generously endowed by nature as jasper . Even among the huge variety of variegated minerals, it occupies a leading place, while proudly bearing the majestic title of “queen of stones.”

Indeed, there is no other stone that is so diverse in colors and patterns, so durable and strong. An encounter with jasper awakens an artist in the soul of every person, excites creative thought and feeling, everyone finds something special in it, so rich is the chain of bizarre associations that are born when looking at this stone.

The photo shows red jasper

Man became acquainted with jasper more than a hundred thousand years ago. Along with silicon and jade, it was widely known already in the Paleolithic era, where tools and hunting tools were made from stone.

The Neanderthal valued this material for its convenience (when the stone split, it produced chips with sharp edges) and strength (jasper scrapers and plates did not wear out). The pattern and color, for which the mineral jasper , did not play much significance in those days.

Although the most important products were made from variegated stones, such as ritual objects or arrowheads, their points were decorated with pieces of red jasper , symbolizing blood, so that the hunt would be successful.

Primitive people endowed the gem with supernatural power, and this is not without reason, since jasper stone, the properties of which are unique, has helped people since its appearance, and this is confirmed by ethnographers of many nations of the world. However, several tens of thousands of years passed before people truly appreciated the beauty, uniqueness and richness of the coloring of this stone.

The photo shows a gold ring with white jasper

The discovery of jasper as a decorative material belongs to ancient and ancient civilizations, whose masters left their descendants with magnificent stone products. These are gems and intaglios, necklaces, bracelets, rings, seals, scarab amulets, figurines of sacred animals, bowls and much more.

Jasper was also used in sculpture. Fragments of the statue (head, arms, legs) were cut out of it, and the body was made, for example, from Egyptian alabaster, a stone that is easier to process.

Or they carved only the torso, draped in clothes, which did not require fine and detailed work, and the remaining parts were made of valuable materials such as ivory.

This technique was called “composite” and became widespread in the ancient world. It allowed sculptors to save expensive materials, and also facilitated the work of the sculptor, who would otherwise have to cut off a lot of excess stone.

The construction of a huge number of palaces, temples, mausoleums, necropolises required new solutions not only in architecture, but also in the interior decoration of premises.

In the photo there is blue jasper

Jasper could not have been more suitable for these purposes - it was in large things that the pattern of the stone appeared in all its diversity. The love for bright colors and variegated flowers came to Europe from Byzantium, and from there from Ancient Egypt.

The lush and colorful East has always been captivated by a riot of color, while Greece gravitated towards clean and light tones. But she also could not escape her love for the unusual gem.

Jasper quickly gained popularity as a finishing stone. A.I. Kuprin in the story “Shulamith,” describing the palace of the biblical King Solomon, mentions jasper benches placed along the walls, and the lining of the pool “made of Egyptian jasper, snow-white, with pink, barely noticeable veins.” Columns of jasper and marble decorated the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

It was burned in 356 BC. e. Herostratus and restored to its original form thanks to Alexander the Great. Later, the church was plundered by the Goths, and its cladding was stolen into other buildings.

The photo shows black jasper

Eight columns made of green jasper ended up in the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople, built in the 6th century by the Byzantine emperor Justinian: having conceived a structure of grandiose size and luxury, Justinian even ordered the floor of the temple to be laid out of multi-colored marble, porphyry and jasper.

It amazed those entering with its beauty, reminiscent of “a meadow strewn with flowers.” This is where the tradition of creating mosaic floors in cathedrals and tombs began, which is successfully used to this day.

Origin and types of jasper

The origin of jasper is no less interesting than the history of its relationship with humans. They tried to determine the nature of the birth of the stone for a long time: in ancient times, jasper was considered icy earthly moisture, in the Middle Ages - fossilized clay, and Renaissance scientists believed that it was mixed “earth juices”, petrified from “fusion”.

According to modern scientific research, jasper is a dense siliceous rock composed of tiny, almost indistinguishable quartz grains, welded together with siliceous cement mixed with chalcedony and other minerals.

The formation of jasper followed different paths, and this is what caused the complexity and heterogeneity of its color and pattern. Jaspers come in all colors of the rainbow - from purple to red, from black to white, plain, variegated, with complex patterns.

The photo shows yellow jasper

The picturesque picture of the birth of the stone was described in his book “Stories about Gems” by Soviet academician A.E. Fersman. He said that some of them were formed from the remains of deep-sea silts, where the simplest organisms lived - silicon sponges and radiolarians, others are associated with lava eruptions.

For millions of years, what was to become jasper in the future was compressed, broken, soaked in hot water, mixed, solidified, cemented with minerals, cracked, compressed again, and this was repeated many times. The incredible diversity of jaspers has given rise to a complex classification system. A.E. Fersman combined jasper into six groups according to the nature of the texture: - massive, with a uniform color, sometimes with spots and inclusions in the form of dendrites (“twigs”), “clouds”, colored dots; - banded (ribbon, wavy, streamy); — porphyry, with small or large inclusions of feldspar and quartz; - variegated, or “calico”, with a beautiful spotted one-color pattern; - breccias and conglomerates (consisting of angular fragments cemented by quartz and other minerals); - spheroidal (penny-shaped) and sintered (agate-shaped).

The photo shows green jasper

It has long been customary to name a stone by its color, pattern or location of discovery. There are: green jasper , black jasper , bloody jasper (dark red), “meat agate” - the color of dried blood with spherical stains, brick and wax jasper - red-brown shades, leopard with a characteristic pattern, brocade, porcelain - gray and cream tones with barely noticeable veins, agate - similar to agate with layers of dim shades, watercolor - with a seemingly blurry oceanic pattern and others.

Sometimes the stone is awarded poetic names - “African queen” - golden yellow with ripples reminiscent of sandy hills, “snake skin”, “autumn leaf”.

One of the most beautiful types of gems is landscape jasper . After a little processing, real picturesque pictures appear on its surface. Some types of jasper have their own names.

These are dark green heliotrope with red spots, black basanite, green plasma and prazem, unique blue irnimite, the only deposit of which is located in the Khabarovsk Territory, variegated Australian jasper mucaite , reminiscent of bright caramel, Californian andradite.

Jasper deposits

Jasper deposits are found everywhere. Since ancient times, stone mining has been carried out in Egypt and India, which still remain the main suppliers of gems to the world market.

In the photo there is brocade jasper

There is jasper in Germany (Saxony), Venezuela, Eastern Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China, and Ukraine. American jasper is known, distinguished by very beautiful patterns, which is found in the states of Maine and Arizona. However, Russian jaspers are rightfully considered the best. They are mined in the Urals, Altai and North Caucasus.

In 1767, the first map in Russia was compiled, on which 68 deposits of the valuable mineral were indicated (today more than 200 are known). According to tradition, jaspers were named after the place where they were found.

Among the numerous Ural jaspers, 8 main varieties stand out: variegated and landscape Orsky; plain Kalinin; ribbon Koshkuldinskaya with contrasting combinations of green, dark red and deep crimson stripes; flowy Yamskaya fawn and dark cherry color; ribbon Malomuinakovskaya with a streamed pattern; landscape Aumkul fawn color with black inclusions; Urazovskaya variegated-colored and crimson-colored Berkutinskaya.

Altai jaspers are no less beautiful , among which Revnevsky ones, whose deposit is located near the city of Zmeinogorsk, stand out. Describing this variety of jasper, Pylyaev Fr.

In the photo there are beads and a bracelet made of watercolor jasper

It is impossible to list and talk about all the jaspers. There are about 200 varieties of Orsk jasper alone, what to say about others. The masters of the past left us magnificent works of art, in which they were able to convey the beauty and uniqueness of this gem, filling them with their warmth and talent.

Magical properties of jasper

Jasper is as great a healer as rock crystal and carnelian. According to Taoist beliefs, it prolongs life and improves the condition of the entire body. In Ancient China, red jasper was credited with the ability to treat any female disease, stop bleeding and cleanse internal organs. Since ancient times, women have held a piece of jasper in their hands during childbirth: this reduced pain and helped to give birth safely.

It has been known since ancient times that the gem is a good helper for epilepsy, fever and seizures. The use of jasper dishes is very useful. The herbs infused in it have an amazing effect on the entire human body, restoring and giving strength to fight the disease.

According to legend, the Byzantine Emperor Manuel gave the monks of Mount Athos a magical cup made of jasper, capable of healing any ailment and neutralizing poison. The stone has long been known as a talisman, symbolizing modesty, courage and firmness.

Pictured is leopard jasper

It is believed that it has the properties to protect against evil fate and bring happiness, drive away sad thoughts and develop intelligence. The nature of the effect of jasper on a person largely depends on its color.

For example, dark stones protect against the evil eye, cold shades bestow foresight, red jasper is worn to get rid of illnesses, and green jasper calms the nervous system.

In Ancient China, red jasper was credited with the ability to treat any female disease, stop bleeding and cleanse internal organs. Since ancient times, women have held a piece of jasper in their hands during childbirth: this reduced pain and helped to give birth safely. be centered, and the spherical shape accumulates energy.

Jasper is an “energy” talisman. It cleanses the space of the home from extraneous influences, brings well-being, peace and prosperity, and allows the inhabitants of the house to “stand firmly on their feet.”

It is better to store the trinkets dearest to your heart in jasper boxes; you cannot find more reliable protection. It is believed that the stone can act at a distance on a person whose portrait is inserted into a jasper frame or laid out with a jasper mosaic.

In the photo there is wax jasper

Jewelry made from red jasper will enhance female attractiveness, and brown stones are suitable for scientists and researchers - they help concentrate mental and spiritual strength, and awaken responsibility.

Astrologically, jasper is most recommended for people born under the sign of Virgo, but all zodiac signs can wear it. Orange and red jasper is recommended for fire signs, blue jasper signs, green and brown for earth signs, and white and yellowish jasper for air signs.

Interesting Facts

The mineral has been widely used for many centuries. There are many interesting facts associated with it:

• According to Mikhail Lomonosov, jasper is one of the most important goods in Russia. He compared its value to pearls, crystal and amber.
• Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin wore a green jasper bracelet without taking it off. The poet considered him an assistant in amorous affairs.
• The interiors of the Kremlin palaces are given a special flavor by paintings created from grayish-blue and light blue gems.
• The Hermitage houses a unique exhibit - “The Queen of Vases”. It weighs 19 tons and is 5 meters in diameter. It was carved from green stone with a ribbon pattern.
• The maces of Bohdan Khmelnytsky and Khan Amin were made from this material.
• A five-ton block of green stone was used for a Buddha statue, which is located in one of the Thai temples. According to legend, healing energy of enormous power emanates from it.
• Baron Rothschild received four hundred thousand rubles in gold for a box made from this material.
• The Byzantine Emperor Manuel presented a jasper bowl to the Athonite monks. This priceless gift helped to heal from all diseases and neutralize poisons.

Not every professional can name all types of jasper. But anyone who has ever seen this gem will be delighted by its beauty. Despite the apparent simplicity, all specimens are unique and perfect.

Jasper stone in magic, astrology and healing

Jasper has not always been used in a positive way. In dark magical rituals, the property of the stone to change fate was used. Such rituals were performed over the image of a person and could cause him serious damage.

Nevertheless, jasper brings more benefits than harm. In order to properly use its natural power, it is important to know all the beneficial properties.

Jasper treatment

In lithotherapy and folk medicine, the positive qualities of natural stone have long been used. Jasper is believed to help:

• For relieving any pain - from headaches to joint pain.
• Improve sleep and psychological state, regain strength. Round stones are suitable for this.
• Improve digestion and reproductive health, overcome infertility.
• Control epilepsy attacks.

In healing, it is believed that red jasper can stop bleeding and cure kidney diseases. Official science does not confirm this statement, but a beautiful amulet made of natural stone is unlikely to harm anyone.

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Augustite is the ancient name aquamarine with a deep blue color.

Agates - agate.

Adamant is a diamond.

Alatyr or latyr is the name of amber.

Almas is a diamond . In ancient times, diamonds had no commercial value and were not of great value. In the trade book for Russian merchants of 1575 and 1610. its price is not indicated, and it is not mentioned in the chapter “0 all kinds of expensive stones.” Diamonds appeared in Rus' much later than in Western Europe, and the first stones came from India. India generally used natural crystals that retained the octahedron shape; occasionally its sides were faceted to obtain some shine. Diamonds were first learned to be cut in Paris, where in 1454 Louis Berquin was distinguished by this art. In Old Rus', diamonds began to appear only around 1500, first with flat “roses”, and later (around 1550-1600) with real diamond edges.

Almandine in ancient times was called carbuncle and anthrax ; in the Middle Ages - karfunkelyptein and, finally, in our time - pomegranate, or garnet . The last name is found in Russia back in the 16th century.

Antavent is the stone of our Russian epic songs; its nature is not clear.

Anthrax - see Almandine.

Aspid - black marble and slate . Work “aspid”, i.e. marbled.

Bakan is the ancient Russian name for orlets . In the old days, diamonds with a dirty tint were also called cormorant diamonds.

Balangus is an old Russian name for pale ruby .

Baus, or bogus - low-value blue stones , such as kyanite, cordierite, indigolite, light sapphire, etc. It is possible that the name “baus” is associated with the name of Jeremiah Baus, a famous dealer in precious stones and envoy of the English Queen Elizabeth, who was in Moscow under Ivan the Terrible .

Belir is most likely beryl.

Becheta, or bicheta - from the eastern word “bajadi”; an old Russian name for low-value red stones . In the Russian trade book of the 16th century. It was said: “It means it’s flowing towards the light: it’s like bubbles.” Most often this meant garnet (almandine).

Burmitskoe (Burmite) grain - Pearl. An old Russian name, derived from the corrupted word “Urmitian”, or rather “Ormus” grain, that is, grain from the city of Ormus, located near the Persian Gulf, where pearls were caught and sold in ancient times. There is an assumption that the name Burmite grain comes from the corrupted word “Gurmysh” (Gurmysh, i.e., Apskoe, sea): “even if there is a Gurmysh sea, pearls will be born in it.” There is no doubt that the name “Kafim” pearls comes from the city of Kafa, present-day Feodosia, where, in all likelihood, the Genoese and Greeks caught and sold pearls.

Varenik is the ancient Russian name for reddish amethyst . In a trade book of the 16th century. it is said about him: “And the dumpling of the nobility: although it is red, another whole place shines white, like any crystal, but the weight of the dumpling is four spools and if only it is as big as yachts, and the color is the same paint as lal, buy 2 stones for 100 rubles or more, and buy one, like a yacht, for the same sample for 50 rubles.”

Venice - see Almandine.

Verillos - belir, beryl . “Tales of the Russian People” says: “Verillos is a very precious stone.”

Mountain lard is a talc , very soft, cloudy white in color (sometimes slightly transparent).

Jade - until the mid-19th century, this was the name given to jade and jadeite.

Zlatoiskr - see Iskryak.

Zaberzat, or zebarzhdat ; according to the assumption of some researchers - Indian chrysoberyl of a dense yellow-green color with play and iridescence of rays, which was very rare; in the East it was valued almost as much as a diamond; Another assumption: the word “zaberza” comes from an Armenian root and means aquamarine (beryl).

Hyacinth - under this name in the old days in Russia hyacinth , which, as was then believed, had the property of extinguishing fire.

Ionia is the ancient name for reddish topaz .

Spark is the mineral aventurine.

Kalaig - turquoise.

Carbuncle - almandine.

Karfunkelstein - almandine.

Karfunculos - “a stone is such a precious thing, the lord of all stones looks like coal, it shines at night, this stone is a nest for the topaz stone.” This is a pomegranate.

Korolek is an old Russian name for coral , carved into balls and other more or less spherical shapes. On Boris Godunov's fur coat there were 15 beads on the collar and in the gaps of the fur, and 16 beads on the silver backs (the role of headbands) with pearl fastenings.

Flint savage - rock crystal.

Bloodstone is the mineral hematite , a type of iron ore. Leaves a red mark on unglazed porcelain.

Blue tit is the mineral lapis lazuli.

Lal (diminutive lalik) - from the Arabic word l'al. In the East, all red colored gemstones are called paws; In our country, this name means only red stones of “second price” . It must be assumed that the word “lal” in the old days meant red Chinese spinel.

Neelum is the ancient name for kyanite, or cyanite (disthene).

Nogat is an onyx, a type of agate.

Eagle stone is a clayey brown iron ore of ellipsoidal or spherical shape with a void inside. The Greeks called such stones aeShev and assumed that eagles especially liked them, which carried them into their nests.

Pandaura - under this name, in the work of N. Razumovsky, Brazilian quartz , containing carmine-red titanium oxides, i.e., rutile needles, in its cracks. Razumovsky distinguishes two types of such stones: some are prepared artificially (in India and China) by rapidly cooling red-hot rock crystal in some red-colored solutions; others are natural, ready-made in nature.

Perelavt - overflow , from the Greek root “very white”.

Pink is the ancient name for red-orange topaz.

Plasma is the ancient name for heliotrope or chrysoprase.

Iridescent - labradorite, a rock of high hardness from dark gray to black with an iridescent sheen (“eyes”).

Smazan, smolyak, planer - smoky quartz. Later, in the 18th century, it began to be called taglyashnik , named after the Italians who worked in the Urals. Struganets, or Stroganets , is an old term for the miners of the Urals, like a planed crystal.

Smaragd - the so-called dark green beryl, or emerald

Siberian gopher, or dark crystal flux - smoky quartz.

Tausin stone - sapphire and labradorite, with a peacock feather tint . The root of the word comes from the Persian "tausi" - peacock. In the old days in Russia, tausin color was considered the most elegant and luxurious.

Tyrone - mentioned in Russian epic songs. Its nature is not clear.

Tumpaz - this is the name of topaz in ancient Slavic ( usually rock crystal or smoky topaz).

Turkiz - Turkish stone, turquoise.

Fatis is the Old Russian name for hyacinth (presumably).

Chalcedony - agate.

The whole yates is a stone unknown to us now . It must be selenite . According to the legends of the ancients, this stone felt the influence of the moon.

Spinaria - spinel, red stone - lal.

Yuga is the Siberian name for colorless quartz (rock crystal) , cut in the form of an insert with elongated facets.

Jasper - from the Greek word iais (I heal). Ancient name for Egyptian green jasper with red speckles (heliotrope); in Russian - jasper. In ancient times, this mineral was credited with the ability to heal many diseases. So. On Mount Athos, in the Vatopedi monastery, a jasper bowl, donated to the monastery by the Greek emperor Manuel, was carefully preserved. According to legend, it counteracts poisons and heals all diseases.

Yakhont - comes from either the Persian “Yakut” or the Greek “hyacyptus”. In the old days in Russia, the word “yakhont” meant sapphire, ruby ​​and other beautiful types of precious corundum . In the Russian trade book of the 16th century. the following rules are proposed when buying a yacht: “The stone of a yacht is wormy, or blue, or chal: make sure that the water is clean, a good bud for half a ruble or more, and whichever is large will be bought at a weight of more than half a ruble, and whichever weighs less will be cheaper at a price ; a yakhont scarlet stone at the Russian price of half a spool, the best color will be bought for five rubles, and the same better one for ten rubles, and one weighing a spool will be bought for 20 rubles; And some are good in color and cost 30 or 40 rubles, and some stone weighs more than a spool, and the price for that is more, with a large foam it costs twice the weight. And if you get a great stone, even though it’s expensive, buy it, only the swallow’s egg would be useful to the sovereign, and give it 100 rubles or more, but you can’t resist the price. The best yachts live in Fryazh. Blue yachts will buy a spool on a pigeon for two rubles; The blue color is light, the spool can be bought for 4 rubles, and the one that is large is why buy it by calculating the weight; and at 2 spools they will buy for 5 rubles; at 4 spools they will buy at 15 rubles; and what’s more, because of its weight, the price is higher; and which yacht is good, they will buy two prices with the same weight, but they would be as clean as they can see.”

Yashur - in the old days this name was used to call a now unknown, inexpensive white stone.