The facts
What picture Jasper actually is
The species behind picture Jasper is chalcedony / silicified sediment, SiO₂ with clay and iron oxide laminae; it forms in the trigonal (cryptocrystalline) system.
Landscape banding from iron-oxide-stained sedimentary or ash laminae is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.530–1.539 and a specific gravity of about 2.55–2.75, with none cleavage.
Where picture Jasper comes from
Commercial material comes from Biggs, Oregon, USA, Bruneau Canyon, Idaho, USA and Owyhee, Oregon, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How picture Jasper is treated
Untreated. Value is entirely in the scenery of the individual slab; classic Biggs and Bruneau material is largely mined out.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What picture Jasper is confused with
Watch for Jasper, Silicified sediment and Printed imitations — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.530–1.539 and specific gravity 2.55–2.75 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What picture Jasper is used for
The trades that buy picture Jasper are carving and sculpture, decorative objects, architecture and interiors, jewellery and mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the block, by the piece or by the square metre.
Durability and care
Picture Jasper is 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What picture Jasper costs
Expect roughly $0.30–6/ct, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is picture Jasper treated, and how?
Untreated. Value is entirely in the scenery of the individual slab; classic Biggs and Bruneau material is largely mined out.
Where does picture Jasper come from?
Biggs, Oregon, USA, Bruneau Canyon, Idaho, USA and Owyhee, Oregon, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is picture Jasper hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does picture Jasper cost?
Indicatively $0.30–6/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is picture Jasper confused with?
Most often Jasper, Silicified sediment and Printed imitations. A refractive index of 1.530–1.539 and a specific gravity near 2.55–2.75 separate it quickly.
What is picture Jasper used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects, architecture and interiors and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for picture jasper?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about picture jasper