Fanci-Full of Whimsey

… and some popular varieties (i.e., sea sediment)

Jasper, in the calcedony family, used for jewelry and ornamentation, is found in many parts of the world, in many different colors from blue, brown, green, purple, red and yellow. Jasper is often comprised of opaque microscopic quartz crystals mixed with various impurities, which impart the multiple colors and structural qualities.

Quartz is one of the most common hard minerals, usually in hexagonal or rhombohedral crystal form, and found in various sizes ranging from microscopic to large. Quartz is composed primarily of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and often mixes with other minerals and/or chemicals which change it’s color, crystalization properties, and appearance. One example might be the gem we call amethyst, which is quartz mixed with chemical forms of iron, aluminum, calcium, et al. It can also be found growing in conjunction with other minerals such as pyrite, which retain their own unique properties during growth (in photo). Quartz often becomes a component of other rock types, including igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary. Quartz has many uses, including in construction (glass, ceramics), electronics (frequency regulation in radio transmitters, clocks and watches), and especially jewelry.