Jasper Stones
We have been collecting jasper ever since we saw it featured on the gemstone map of Scotland which that jeweller drew up a while back. He indicated that you would find it in the Campsies. We have found it everywhere south of the Campsies. But the hills are well worth a visit.
Jasper stones have been collected and polished by hand in Scotland since there were people with hands to do the polishing. Villagers would exchange the polished stones with passing traders, or hole them into beads and sell them as jewellery.
Scottish jasper comes in a range of fantastic colours, each of which depends upon the ratio of minerals in the earth at the time of the jasper's formation. Limonite can produce yellow jaspers while hematite can make deep, wine red jasper. Greens, blues, blacks, and oranges are also found in Scotland.
Most of our jasper is Scottish since it is an abundant mineral in the lowlands. We find it in the forest, in the pathways, in our gardens - and we collect them up and stick them in the rock tumbler to polish them to a high shine... or as high a shine as we can manage.
You can shop for Scottish jasper and international jasper tumblestones below or you can read about how important this crystal is to the Scottish people in The Stone Circle Rock Blog.
Jasper from Scotland
Scottish jasper is one of our proudest stones. Once extremely popular in Victorian era pebble jewellery, Scottish jasper earned the nickname "Scotch Pebbles". These were collected by locals, polished by hand, and holed to make beads. Victorian lapidary artists also liked to shine up Scottish jasper and Scottish agate to make distinct and beautiful brooches.
Different Colours of Jasper (Stone)
Jasper comes in all different colours, from deep wine reds and browns through to yellows, greens, blacks, and we find the occasional piece which looks blue. You can also get different types of jasper, such as picasso jasper, ocean jasper, and banded jasper (jasp-agate).
Scotland is most famous for its red jasper, which takes on bright to deep red hues based on the amount of hematite and red ochre in the groundwaters where it forms. Different colours of jasper have had different minerals impact them during formation.
Which Minerals Makes Which Colours of Jasper?
If hematite is responsible for deep red jasper, then which other minerals make the other colours of jasper?
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Limonite, goethite, and Siderite contain bright yellow iron oxides. These can make both yellow jasper and, when mixed with hematite-red, they make orange.
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Black and brown jasper can result from an area with high levels of manganese - the same manganese which can make dendrites.
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Green jasper is often coloured by chlorite.
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Clay can give earthern coloured jasper its hue, as well as producing lighter faun and yellow colours.
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Sulfur, hematite, and even arsenic can be responsible for blue jasper.
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White jasper can be the product of calcium carbonates and even aluminium sillicates.
