Jasper And Silver - A Winning Combination For Jewelry
By Dale Arnold
Jasper is a common stone that is found in many countries and all continents around the world. The great abundance of this jasper is attributed to it composition. This stone is a form of micro-crystalline quartz and chalcedony. Since quartz or silicon dioxide is the most common mineral found on the earth, it stands to reason that jasper occurs commonly around the world. Jasper usually also contains traces of other minerals and metals including iron, manganese, chromium, etc.

These impurities or secondary minerals as they are sometimes called, often control the color and appearance of the stone. The term micro crystalline means that the crystals in quartz are so small that they cannot be seen by the human eye even with the assistance of low magnification. Micro crystalline or crypto crystalline quartz is in contrast with macro crystalline varieties such as amethyst, where large and well developed crystals are the norm. Jasper occurs in nature in a wide variety of colors such as red, pink, yellow, grey, white, and blue. The exact origin of the world "jasper" is unknown at this time. Most believe that it has its origin in the Greek language and is a transformation of the Greek word for "spotted stone".

It is unusual to find a uniformly colored specimen of jasper. Most stones have some pattern on them. In many cases, the particular variety of jasper is named after the patterns on the stone, and each variety is believed to have its own metaphysical and healing powers. Dalmatian jasper, as the name suggests, has a white or light grey background with small dark spots, much like the skin of the Dalmatian dog. This particular type of jasper improves emotional stability, helps a person be calm under trying circumstances, makes a person more patient, and keeps away nightmares. Fancy jasper is usually colorful and has bright swirls of greens and lavender over a white or other light colored background.

The swirls give the stone a cheery appearance, and is therefore believed to help with depression. Similarly, ocean jasper often has a wavy pattern which is believed to calm a person and help with meditation. Landscape or picture jasper is another interesting variety of this stone, although it is not frequently used in jewelry designs. Picture jasper is usually found brown, beige, and cream. The combination of colors results in a landscape-like pattern on the stone. the colors and patterns are similar to the hills and valley relief often seen in the desert Southwest. The true beauty of the specimen is brought out when cut in the form of a lapidary slab that captures the nuances of color and shapes. Some believe that green jasper provides a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds, while red jasper heightens the olfactory senses. Leopard jasper has an orange or orangish-tan background with either red or brown spots. Poppy jasper resembles a poppy field because of its yellow and red dotted pattern.

Jasper is often used to make a sterling pendant and other pieces of fine and fashion jewelry. The wide range of patterns and colors of this stone means that jewelry designers can probably find specimens to satisfy every taste and fancy. The stones are quite inexpensive and a cut and polished cab about one inch is size of most varieties will cost less than five dollars. This makes it very cost effective for fashion jewelry. Framed in sterling silver settings, jasper jewelry is quite popular with teenagers and young adults. Another reason for the popularity of this stone is that it is quite hard and resilient. It requires little maintenance and can be easily cleaned using warm water, a mild soap, and a soft cloth.