Picture Jasper information

Picture Jasper – SiO2 – Silicon Dioxide

Chalcedony is a catch all term that includes many well known varieties of cryptocrystalline quartz gemstones. Chalcedony includes agate, bloodstone, carnelian, chert, chrysoprase, flint, heliotrope, jasper, moss agate, onyx, plasma, prase, sardonyx, mocha stone, petrified wood.... to name a few of the better known varieties.

Picture Jasper – Landscape in Stone

Jasper is an ornamental rock composed mostly of chalcedony, microcrystalline quartz, in association with other minerals, which give it colorful bands and patterns.

Picture jasper is a petrified or silicated mud that dripped into gas pockets in molten lava. It became superheated and then solidified forming the unusual banded patterns which are typical of this stone.

It often contains organic material and mineral oxides which gives it interesting patterns, bands and colour. Many of these patterns resemble landscapes with mountains and valleys, a small panorama in stone, thus the name "picture" is part of the name.

Jasper is often named after its pattern: Ribbon jasper, Picture jasper and Landscape jasper to mention a few.

Jasper was a favourite gem in the ancient world; its name can be traced back in Hebrew, Assyrian, Persian, Greek and Latin.

Birthstone months:
October: Mystical Birthstone

Star Stone Months:
Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19): Planetary Stone/Lucky Charm
Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22): Birthstone

Uses:
Basins, Bowls, Carvings
Jewellery, beads, Cabochons
Objects to adorn buildings (Saint Wenceslas Chapel in Prague)

Hardness rating: Jasper has a hardness rating of 7.

Specific Gravity: 2.65 -2.66

Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness

In 1812 the Mohs scale of mineral hardness was devised by the German mineralogist Frederich Mohs (1773-1839), who selected the ten minerals because they were common or readily available. A substance's hardness value indicates the materials resistance to scratching and grades minerals on a comparative scale from 1 (very soft) to 10 (very hard). In the Mohs scale, a mineral of a given hardness rating will scratch other minerals of the same rating, as well as any minerals of a lower rating. For example, sapphires and rubies have a Mohs rating of 9 and will scratch each other, as well as any mineral with a rating lower than 9. However, they will not scratch diamonds, which are rated 10. The scale is not a linear scale, but somewhat arbitrary.

Hardness of some other items:
2.5 Fingernail
2.5–3 Gold, Silver
3 Copper penny
4-4.5 Platinum
4-5 Iron
5.5 Knife blade
6-7 Glass
6.5 Iron pyrite
7+ Hardened steel file