sedimentary
Jasper Marble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Impurities
Hardness: 6.5 - 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellow, green, and cream swirled; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline (trigonal); Specific Gravity: 2.58 - 2.91.
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Yellow, green, and cream swirled
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5 - 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellow, green, and cream swirled; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline (trigonal); Specific Gravity: 2.58 - 2.91.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the deposition of silica from volcanic ash or hydrothermal solutions into fractures or cavities. Identifying the exact age is difficult without context, but Jasper is found in formations ranging from the Precambrian to recent eras.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in lapidary arts as decorative spheres (marbles), jewelry (cabochons), and ornamental carvings.
Geological facts
Jasper is an opaque variety of chalcedony. The swirled patterns in specimens like this are often caused by the flow of mineral-rich fluids or 'slumping' during the deposition of the silicate sediment.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its opacity (unlike translucent agate), high hardness (cannot be scratched by a steel knife), and conchoidal fracture. Commonly found in riverbeds or volcanic regions globally.
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