Desert Messenger

February 3, 2016 www.DesertMessenger.com 33 ROCKS FROM PAGE 8 Local Resident • FREE Estimates Larry - Cell 928-273-3719 DAY NIGHT SHADES REPAIRED GUARANTEED WORK! Factory Parts! Factory Chords! 585 N. Central Quartzsite Open Mon-Fri 8-5 928-927-8787 Johnny DelPino, Owner BEST AUTO RV & TRUCK REPAIR SERVICE YOU CAN DEPEND ON! We sell U-HAUL BOXES CUSTOM MADE PET ACCESSORIES The Pet Patio ~ Ray & Verna Maurer EASY TO FIND! Tyson Wells Space 29 Full line of nylon products and comfort harnesses, fleece coats, dog boots, doggles, etc. 661-428-3499 or 206-890-1696 stone. This fracturing and re-solidifi - cation process can occur many times during the formation of the stone and can result in beautiful color com- binations and amazing patterns. As far as color goes, jasper can be found in just about any color, though by far the most common color is red. Yellow and brown are tied for a close second, while green and gray are more uncommon. Black can also occur in jasper occasionally, and blue is rare. Pink, orange, white, and purple occur sometimes, as well. The color in jasper is caused by the other minerals in the solution as the stone is forming. Reds typically come from iron oxides, more specifi - cally, hematite. Other iron oxides create oranges, yellows and some- times browns. Pink and purple is the result of manganese. Jasper color combinations are extremely diverse and varied, but single-color stones are very rare. Often jaspers are named for their color schemes or patterns. Bumble- bee jasper, for example, is yellow and black and brings to mind its namesake insect, and zebra jasper has alternating zebra-like streaks of brown and white. Orbicular jasper has a pattern of orbicular concen- tric rings, scenic or picture jasper exhibits "landscapes", and banded jasper is, well, banded. Some other jaspers whose names describe their patterns are leopard skin or poppy jasper from South Africa and Ocean Jasper from Madagascar. Sometimes the jasper is named for the location where it is found. Examples of this are Owyhee Jasper which comes from the Owyhee mountains in Or- egon, and Gnandstein jasper, a gor- geous green, pink, and white banded stone from the Gnandstein region of Saxony, Germany. Our famous Brenda Jasper, which hails from Brenda, AZ, is another good example of this creative nomenclature. Jasper has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale and no cleavage, which makes it an excellent stone for cutting, carving, and polishing. Jasper has been known and loved by people all over the world for thousands of years. Many ancient peoples used it to fashion weapons and tools, to create every- day items such as bowls or decorative containers, or as seals for politicians or royalty. Jasper has also been used since prehistoric times as ornamental jewelry, just as it is today. It is a favor- ite of both hobbyists and professional jewelers alike because of its abundance and variety of colors and patterns. It is also a very durable and maintenance- free stone, making it perfect for ev- eryday wear in a wide array of jewelry designs for both men and women. Here in Quartzsite, we are fortunate to have several beautiful varieties of high quality jasper located in our backyard. The intense red and yellow stone known as Brenda Jasper often has swirls of green and tiny inclu- sions of crystal pockets and is found within a short drive from town in the Plomosa Mountains near Brenda. Another red and yellow jasper can be found near Bouse. If you want to go for a more subdued color scheme, Pastelite and Porcelain Jasper are two other very nice varieties located within day trips from Quartzsite. Pastelite is typically a cream or fl esh pink color, with bands or swirls of brown and red. Porcelain Jasper has a similar color scheme with gray and some grayish-green added to the mix. Much of the material found in the Quartzsite area is lapidary grade and will produce excellent cabochons. For more information and maps to local jasper sites, and to purchase lapidary grade jasper, visit RocksIn- MyHead. We have several varieties of jasper in stock, including local ones, as well as a great selection of rocks, fossils, minerals, and more. We also carry books, maps, tools, equipment and more for all your rockhounding, prospecting, and lapi- dary needs. We are open November through April, 7 days a week, from 10am to 5pm, at Rice Ranch, A37 in Quartzsite, and online at www.Rock- sInMyHead.com. Our phone number is 605-376-8754. THRIFT STORE Benefitting the La Paz County Animal Shelter in Parker Supported by your generous donations! 455 E. Main St. Quartzsite Open Tues. thru Sat. 9-3 928-927-4223 The Smoke Shop Summer Residents & Visitors Thanks for Your Continued Support! WELCOME BACK WINTER RESIDENTS & VISITORS! WINTER Hours - Oct. 1 st - April 30 th Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Saturday & Sunday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

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