SiO₂
Jasper
Picture jasper keeps a landscape only because the impurities settled in layers before the silica closed.
- Formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5–7
- Crystal system
- trigonal
- Colour
- many-coloured, red
- Element
- earth
- Chakra (tradition)
- root
- Zodiac
- Aries, Leo, Virgo, Scorpio
- Month
- —
- Where the earth keeps it
- India, Egypt, Brazil
What it actually is
Jasper is SiO₂ before it is a story. The lattice is trigonal, Mohs 6.5–7, and the eye meets many-coloured, red.
The better pieces still come out of the ground in India, Egypt, Brazil. Picture jasper keeps a landscape only because the impurities settled in layers before the silica closed.
What the old tradition whispers
The parlour tradition ties Jasper to earth and to the root centre. The old site stood it near: Aries, Leo, Virgo, Scorpio.
How not to turn it to ash
Quartz will take lukewarm water and a cloth. Long sun fades amethyst and rose quartz. Perfume is a worse neighbour than dust.