sedimentary

Brecciated jasper

Jasper (microcrystalline quartz, SiO₂), likely iron-oxide-rich breccia

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; opaque red, maroon, cream, and brown fragments in a silica-rich matrix, with dull to waxy luster and no visible cleavage. Its irregular angular clasts and conchoidal fracture are characteristic of brecciation and silicification.

Identified August 17, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids cement and replace fractured volcanic or sedimentary rock, commonly with hematite or goethite producing red coloration. Precise age cannot be determined from the image; jasper deposits range from Precambrian to recent.

Uses & applications

Used as ornamental stone, cabochons, beads, carvings, polished slabs, and decorative aggregate; attractive pieces have modest lapidary value.

Geological facts

Jasper is an opaque variety of chalcedony or microcrystalline quartz, and brecciated varieties preserve evidence of repeated fracturing and mineralized fluid movement.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by testing for quartz-like hardness, observing opaque red angular patches, and checking that it does not fizz in dilute hydrochloric acid. Common in volcanic and hydrothermal districts worldwide, including the western United States, Mexico, Brazil, India, and Australia.