Jasper 红砖石
Deposit sites: India, Russia, Egypt, Africa, France, Germany, U.S.A., Italy, and Scotland
Variety/Species: Chalcedony
Hardness: 6.5~7
Zodiacal sign: Gemini, Virgo, Pisces, Aries, Cancer, Libra
Color scheme: Brown to yellowish brown, virtually all colors.
Jasper gets its name from the Greek word meaning “spotted stone.” Jasper is a variety of chalcedony located in the quartz group. Jasper comes in many colors unc1uding red, brown, yellow, green, blue, multi-colored, and striped. The grey jasper is sometimes called hornstone, and the spotted variety is called bull’s-eye jasper.
The ancients considered it a rain-bringer, and may drive away evil spirits and protected the wearer from venomous bites.
Different varieties of jasper are today used as ornamental stones, but during the Middle Ages, fine stones were cut as gems and worn in jewelry. The ancients wore jasper as amulets against a variety of inflections including fever, dropsy, epilepsy, snakebites, and headaches.