sedimentary
Red Jasper
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron oxide inclusions
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs); Color: Brick red to brownish red; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.58-2.91
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Brick red to brownish red
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs); Color: Brick red to brownish red; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.58-2.91
Formation & geological history
Formed through the infiltration of silica-rich waters into sedimentary or volcanic rock. Its red color comes from high concentrations of iron oxide (hematite). It often forms in hydrothermal environments or as pebble-like deposits in riverbeds.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in lapidary work for making jewelry, beads, cabochons, and ornamental carvings. Also popular in rock tumbling and as a grounding stone in metaphysical practices.
Geological facts
Jasper has been used for millennia; it was frequently used in the ancient world for cylinder seals and amulets. It is an opaque variety of chalcedony.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its deep red color, opacity (it should not let light through even at the edges), and extreme hardness (it will scratch glass). Commonly found in stream beds, deserts, and gravel pits globally.
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