Hardness: 7.00
Refractive Index: 1.53-1.54
Specific Gravity: 2.61
Birthstone: March
Astral Stone: Scorpio, Sagittarius
Anniversary Stone:
Origination: India, France, Germany, the former Russia & the United States.
Care & Cleaning: To clean, rub lightly with a soft polishing cloth. An optional dab of olive oil will produce a beautiful shine.
Fiction, Facts & Folklore:
Jasper is a member of the chalcedony mineral group.
The Nevada deserts produce some pretty specimens in colors of green, red, white and blue. Most of these stones are considered too small to fashion into jewelry. As a result, most rock hounds consider these �tumble stones� which are incorporated into a wide variety of artifacts and other displays.
California and Massachusetts are two other domestic sources of supply.
Although it is attributed to the sign of Sagittarius, astrologers often associate jasper with the fixed star of Libra. It is also linked to Mercury and Venus.
Jasper was used in the 19th century in the carving of cameos. Its� multi-colored look produced a most interesting effect.
Jasper was believed to protect the wearer from blindness.
It was also believed to inspire rainfall which made it a popular gem among desert dwellers and others in drought-ridden areas.
The presence of jasper in earlier times signified the return of a lost love.
Jasper was also thought to offer protection to the wearer, but only if it was worn on the left side of the body.