sedimentary/mineral

Red Jasper (Tumbled)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron oxide inclusions

Hardness: 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Terracotta to brick red; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (especially when polished); Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline (trigonal); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.58-2.91

Hardness: 6
Color: Terracotta to brick red
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (especially when polished)

Identified March 29, 2026More sedimentary/mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the deposition of silica-rich fluids in volcanic or sedimentary environments, where the red hue is produced by high concentrations of iron oxide (hematite). It often forms in hydrothermal veins or as a secondary replacement in sedimentary beds.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for lapidary work, jewelry, ornamental carvings, and 'healing stone' collections. Historically used for making tools and seals.

Geological facts

Jasper has been revered since antiquity; in ancient Egypt, red jasper was associated with the blood of Isis and used in protective amulets. It is an opaque variety of chalcedony.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its opaque nature (unlike translucent carnelian), its high hardness (can scratch glass), and its distinctive conchoidal fracture. Commonly found in India, Brazil, South Africa, and the southwestern USA.

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