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Jasper Stone
Jasper is an opaque, impure variety of
silica, usually red, yellow or brown in color. This mineral
breaks with a smooth surface, and is used for ornamentation
or as a gemstone. It can be highly polished and is used for
vases, seals, and at one time for snuff boxes. When the
colors are in stripes or bands, it is called striped or
banded jasper. Jaspilite is a banded iron formation rock
that often has distinctive bands of jasper. Jasper is
basically chert which owes its red color to iron inclusions.