Jasper

Jasper is an opaque variety of chalcedony occurring in several color variants (red, green, yellow, brown ...). The main component is silicon dioxide with frequent opal admixtures, coloring then determines chlorite closures, iron, manganese and other elements. Since ancient times, the stone has been appreciated. Besides jewelery, it is also important in esoterics. Jasper is formed in rock cavities of various kinds as a result of the cooling of hot solutions, gases and vapors escaping from the cooling magma (filling cavities of basal and metaphoric almonds), which is formed at low temperatures as a precipitate of silicate solutions. In addition, contact metamorphosis of rocks of the appropriate composition may occur. The Greeks, the Romans and the Egyptians, valued him as a gem. Reliefs and intaglios were carved into the jasper. A large collection of carved jaspers, predominantly Ural, is found in the St. Petersburg Hermitage. Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia and Hungary Rudolf II. the table was inlaid with many colors of jasper. This table was one of the seven wonders of the Renaissance.