Description
Mookaite belongs to the jasper family and therefore to the quartz group and has a hardness of 7. Mookaite is found in China and Western Australia. Jasper is an opaque and finely crystalline variety of quartz. Its chemical composition is identical to that of agate, flint, and chert. The colors are variable, from yellow through red and reddish brown to green. Jasper stones are cut and polished for setting in jewelry. The name jasper is derived from Latin and Greek (íaspis) in a Semitic language and means "spotted or speckled stone." Jasper has been used as a gemstone since ancient times. It was made into seal stones, small cut stones, and trinkets. Jasper was believed to have magical powers. In ancient times, it was called the mother of all stones. Today, it is used in cabochons, tableware, and handicrafts. Imitations are made from glass. The Egyptians and Greeks already used jasper to enhance sexuality and achieve rapid pregnancy. Among Native Americans, yellow jasper served as a rainstone. Several medicinal properties are attributed to jasper, such as stress reduction, weight loss, treating stomach complaints, and resolving liver problems. According to various literary sources, jasper is associated with the zodiac signs Aries, Virgo, Cancer, and Scorpio. The Christian text Revelation 4:2-3 states: "In that moment I was in the Spirit. There was a throne in heaven, and someone was sitting on it. The one sitting had the appearance of a jasper and a sardine stone, and around the throne was a rainbow like an emerald.".
