Lily pad jasper

Lily pad jasper

Lily pad jasper is often wrongly call lily pad obsidian. It is however easy to identify by testing their fracture, hardness, or specific gravity with basic gemological tools.

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Jasper

Lily pad jasper, an aggregate of microgranular quartz or chalcedony and other mineral phases, is an opaque, impure variety of silica, usually red, yellow, brown or green in color, and rarely blue. The common red color is due to iron inclusions.

Jasper breaks with a smooth surface and is used for ornamentation or as a gemstone. It can be highly polished and is used for items such as vases, seals, and snuff boxes. The specific gravity of jasper is typically 2.5 to 2.9.

Jasper types

Jasper is an opaque rock of virtually any color stemming from the mineral content of the original sediments or ash. Patterns arise during the consolidation process forming flow and depositional patterns in the original silica rich sediment or volcanic ash. Hydrothermal circulation is generally thought to be required in the formation of jasper.

Jasper can be modified by the diffusion of minerals along discontinuities providing the appearance of vegetative growth, i.e., dendritic. The original materials are often fractured or distorted, after deposition, into diverse patterns, which are later filled in with other colorful minerals. Weathering, with time, will create intensely colored superficial rinds.

Picture jaspers

Picture jaspers exhibit combinations of patterns, such as banding from flow or depositional patterns from water or wind, dendritic or color variations, resulting in what appear to be scenes or images,on a cut section.

Diffusion from a center produces a distinctive orbicular appearance, leopard skin jasper, or linear banding from a fracture as seen in leisegang jasper. Healed, fragmented rock produces brecciated broken jasper.

Lily pad jasper meaning and healing properties benefits

The following section is pseudo scientific and based on cultural beliefs.

This highly nurturing stone bring peace in times of stress, provides balance while promoting courage and determination, detoxifies and aids in releasing addiction and obsession.

Lily pad jasper under microscope

Natural lily pad jasper for sale in our shop

We make custom made lily pad jasper jewelry as engagement rings, necklaces, stud earrings, bracelets, pendants… Please contact us for a quote.