polychrom Jasper prism from Madagascar
PUMI2232-6
Jasper is a very fine-grained mineral that is always opaque. It is very close to Agates because they are two varieties of Chalcedony, and its colors are just as varied. But contrary to Agates, it was not formed by successive deposits in a geode. It covers much larger surfaces, and can therefore be cut in large dimensions. A jasper is always cut, and polished, to bring out the incredible color variations it contains. This one clearly shows an alternation of red, green and even blue colors, linked to the oxides that tinted this stone during its formation.
