Stones: Romance, History, and Science 1
Jasper
Jasper was considered in ancient cultures to be a bringer of rain. In Revelations, the walls of the City of God are said to be composed of jasper, and it was therefore considered by the people of the Middle Ages as a promoter of holiness. The chemical composition is silicon dioxide, and its hardness is 6.5-7 on Moh’s scale. It’s found commonly in many parts of the world and comes in many earth-toned colors from brown, rust and rose to pale green.
Use Jasper for: Red and poppy jasper come in ideal “Holy Spirit” colors of flame red. The softer, muted tones of fancy jasper make a beautiful symbol for diversity, which moukite jasper shows tones evocative of the bread and wine of the Eucharist. New jaspers are available all the time.
Shown at left: A Eucharistic-themed Anglican Rosary, “My Father’s Table” in moukite jasper with bronze cross.
Tiger Eye
Tiger eye is the commoner yellow-brown form of chrysoberyl. It is believed to bring good fortune and is the national gemstone of Ceylon. The “Cat’s Eye” effect is achieved by cutting the stone across one of its natural striations or stripes. More valuable tiger eye is composed of beryllium aluminum oxide, but it is also found as silicon dioxide, or quartz. It ranks between 7 and 8 on Moh’s scale. A common treatment for tiger eye is to expose it to heat. This treatment yields a beautiful and rich mahogany color commonly called “red tiger eye.”A very convincing tiger eye can now be made synthetically from the same fiber-optic material used to manufacture cables used for high speed data transmission. This comes in a variety of colors and is usually clearly identified.
Use Tiger Eye for: Tiger Eye makes a wonderful alternative to black stones for men’s rosaries. It also seems to have a natural affinity for some forms of jade and serpentine. Combine it with other browns for rosaries honoring a Franciscan.
Shown at Left: Pistachio “jade” and carved tiger eye with bronze.
Carnelian
A form of translucent reddish-orange to red agate, the name is derived from the Latin carne, meaning flesh. The Oriental and Arabic cultures believed Carnelian would protect you from the evil of envious persons, while people in the Middle Ages believed it guarded against nightmares, enchantments, and lightning strikes. It is the national gemstone of Norway and Sweden. Carnelian is a form of silicon dioxide. Its reddish hue is derived from iron oxides, and it is sometimes heat treated to enhance its rich color. It is a common stone in many parts of the world and has a hardness of 6.5-7 on Moh’s scale.
Use Carnelian for: In its untreated state it shows a variety of sunny hues–hot oranges, golds, reds, yellows, and creams, making it perfect for summer and autumn. Treated, it becomes flame-colored. It’s also very evocative of the Desert Southwest and harmonizes beautifully with turquoise and onyx.
Shown at Left: Heat-treated Carnelian with pure American turquoise from Nevada.
The Rosarymaker’s Hints
Two Books Worth Owning
Francis, Peter. Beads of the World. A comprehensive beginner’s guide to collectible and historic beads. Available at The Bead Site.
Fisher, Angela: Africa Adorned. This exquisite book contains over 300 full-color illustrations and photographs. It is a complete reference work and exploration of the social, cultural, religious, and personal aspects of jewelry and body adornment across Africa. I was astonished to see the price of this book and feel very fortunate to have a copy. You may want to look for it in your local library. Available on the Web at Alibris.
