sedimentary

Banded Jasper and Quartz Pebble

Silicified sedimentary rock / Chalcedony (SiO2)

Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Multi-colored bands of yellow, purplish-brown, and light pink/tan; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal structure: Microcrystalline quartz (cryptocrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.58-2.66.

Hardness: 6
Luster: Waxy to vitreous

Identified July 30, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed via the precipitation of silica-rich fluids into sedimentary rock layers or fractures over millions of years, often subsequently smoothed and rounded by water action in a riverbed or coastal environment.

Uses & applications

Used in lapidary arts, ornamental carving, tumbling, jewelry making, and as a collectible specimen.

Geological facts

Banded patterns in jasper and chert are created by rhythmic precipitation of silica from fluids, a process known as Liesegang banding, resulting in striking geological art.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its distinctive colored bands, smooth water-worn texture, and high hardness which prevents it from being scratched by steel. Commonly found in gravel bars, riverbeds, and beaches where siliceous rocks have undergone water transport.

Other sedimentary specimens

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Sandstone or Siltstone

Arenite (if sandstone)

Sedimentary

Fossiliferous Concretion

Septarian Concretion containing Brachiopods/Crinoids

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Quartz pebble

Silicon dioxide (SiO2)

sedimentary

Generic Pebble / Rock Fragment

Lithic fragment / Weathered rock

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Banded Siltstone / Mudstone Pebble

Siltstone / Argillite

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Sedimentary Sandstone

Arenite (Sedimentary Rock)

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