Jasper
Jasper is a form of chalcedony most commonly thought of as dark red in colour. However jasper comes in many diferent shades from yellow to dark brown. In particular, the stone often contains impurities which give it a speckled, striped or banded appearance - the name jasper comes from the Greek iaspis and means "spotted stone".These different patterns of banding lead to some fascinating and spectacular effects when the stone is polished for use in jewelry. The banding pattern often leads to an image that resembles an abstract painting, possibly a landscape, and many of the jasper stones you can buy have pictorial names such as Stone Canyon or Willow Creek. Jaspilite is a stone that consists of alternating bands of jasper and the iron oxide hematite.
You can buy jasper jewelry in many forms, the red colour making it a popular choice for romantic designs such as hearts. Banded jasper is at its best when the distinctive banding can be clearly seen, making pendants and earrings especially popular.
Lore surrounding jasper generally gives it a protective meaning. It's also sometimes said to provide courage and energy.