Jasper

Jasper is a microcrystalline, fine-grained variety of the mineral quartz, it is like this for the mineral class of oxides with a molar ratio of metal: oxygen = 1:2. It is closely related to the fibrous always built Chalcedon. The relationship is so close that even pieces occur where quartz materials grainy and fibrous constructed are fused together.

Jasper will be processed solely for gemstones.

Special Features

Jasper is only very rarely found in pure form. By adhesions with agate and opal, but also by foreign admixtures of up to 20% as alumina, iron oxide, iron hydroxide and manganese hydroxide and its chemical and physical properties vary greatly. Since the amount and distribution of these admixtures decide on the appearance, color and Varietätenspielraum of Jasper is extremely large. In addition, the bar changes color depending on the solute and can be use for testing the authenticity hardly.

This has the consequence that many similarly shaped and grained minerals and varieties, and even rocks, whose color and pattern to those of jasper look similar, are sold under this name in the trade.

Etymology and history

The word " jasper " derives, via Latin from the Greek iaspis ἴασπις, IASPIS for " speckled stone " from. This name in turn originates from an Oriental language, possibly from the Ancient Egyptian or Persian ( yashp ).

Varieties

The name or trade name of the many varieties often reflect their place of origin, but also their color and drawing.

• So the Achatjaspis ( Jaspachat ) is a yellow, brown and green striped intergrowth of jasper and agate, strictly speaking, ie a rock.
• The Egyptian jasper ( Kugeljaspis, Nilkiesel, Jaspisknollen ), ocher- yellow to striped and mottled brown and brick red, often found in large quantities as boulders in the Nile and in the desert. In Cairo, he is a conglomerate that probably belongs to the Cretaceous.
• Due to its gray, green, yellow, red and brown colored, striped or banded structure of the parallel Bandjaspis is destined for processing into gems.
• The fine-grained, black basanite is best known jewelers and goldsmiths, as he finds them as a bar sample using.
• The Bilderjaspis with brown and black grain is often confused by its many facets with Mookait, epidote, Pietersite, stromatolite, tiger iron. The Bilderjaspis is mined mainly in South Africa, Oregon, Australia.
• Also fine but from gray to brown-red, rarely green and black is the chert, which is a synonym for Jasper in use often.
• In the basement Forest Agate ( locality basement Forest / Northern Hesse ) is a weißgeäderten red jasper.
• The often imitated by similar-looking rocks Landschaftsjaspis shows on the surface lively patterns that can be interpreted even with little imagination as stylized landscapes or plants. The brown, caused by admixtures of iron color does the rest to reinforce this impression.
• As Mookait a pink to pale red variety is referred to as cloud-like banded structure, which is mainly mined in Australia.
• A named after its place of discovery Nunkirchen, white or yellowish - gray to brownish red variety is known as Nunkirchner jasper. He is often stained with Prussian blue and sold as imitation of lapis lazuli under the trade names Lapis German, Swiss Lapis or lapis lazuli Nunkirchener.

• Ocean Jasper is from what became known since 2001 Marovato mine in Madagascar. It is sold in esotericism also under the names Augenjaspis or achat and Kugelrhyolith or chalcedony.
• Porzellanjaspis or jasper from Bühlchen is a rare variety of Jasper Epterode at Großalmerode in Hesse, the world's only reference of this variety. He is colored green spots by various herbal additives under pressure, heat and oxygen.
• The misleading, but still used name Prasem one hand stands for a fine-grained, washed out green jasper variety, on the other, for a leek green quartz aggregate.
• Plasma is quite similar to the Prasem, but of rather coarse-grained structure, so that its green color looks dirty.
• Silex is called the yellow and maroon spotted or striped concentric variety, mostly red and brown, and yellow and black, found particularly on Eisenstein programs at many places.
• Indian Zebrajaspis is dark brown with light brown strokes and often contains fossilized shells and snails.

The Heliotrope is indeed often erroneously assigned the synonym Blutjaspis, however, is a self- quartz variety of leek green color with pink to red spots. In contrast to the granular jasper heliotrope, however, is built radialstrahlig, but can see the Jasper similar by forming spherical aggregates.

Education and Locations

Jasper is found massive, disseminated, in balls and usually as attachments via fill or tubers, rarely in grape - or kidney-shaped forms.

In addition to the localities listed already at the varieties of jasper will also, among other things found at the following locations: Erzgebirge, resin, Auggen and Idar -Oberstein in Germany, Yekaterinburg and Okhotsk in Siberia, on the Italian island of Sicily and the French island of Corsica, and in Tirol.

Use as a gemstone

Jasper was a highly respected gem in ancient times by the Greeks and Romans.

In the Bible it says about the apostle John revealed Heavenly Jerusalem (Rev 21,19 EU):

Over the centuries, the Jasper has lost its significance and value and is currently used to seal stones, cans, vases, table tops, cans, mosaic, architectural work etc..

Largest Gemstones

• The largest polished jasper is profiled as a dish in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg with a size of 5.04 × 3.22 meters. The shell of Revnev Jasper from the Altai has a weight of about 19 ​​tons and a circumference of about 12.7 meters.
• Another ground Jasper made ​​from a 2850 kg ingot into a ball having a weight of about one ton and a diameter of 87.5 cm. It is located in Sankt Augustin- Hangelar.
• Another great Jaspiskugel originally from Botswana and is in German Gemstone Museum in Idar -Oberstein. For a 800 kg ingot comprises a 224 kg heavy ball with 54 cm diameter was cut.

Manipulation and imitation

The variety of colors and drawings at Jasper makes it easy to imitate him using similar-looking rocks and varieties of other minerals. For example, the serpentine variety silver eye is marketed under the name Zebra Jasper. Blumenjaspis is actually Unakite and also a rock, such as that sold as leopard skin, rainforest or eye - jasper rhyolite.

Esoteric

The famous in the late Middle Ages naturalist Konrad Gesner narrated: " The Jasper is a sign in front of the chest, the sword in his hand and the serpent under your feet It shields against all diseases and renews spirit, heart and mind.. " Among the ancient Greeks believed that the jasper its wearer! Give inner harmony and have women by wearing the stone a full harmony pregnancy. The red jasper is the best help for nausea and excessive appetite.

Gallery

Jasper from Bühlchen

And as Macroaufnahme

Landschaftsjaspis in spherical form

Dalmatian Jasper in egg shape