sedimentary
Breciated Red Jasper
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite impurities
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs), Color: Red and gray/white mottling, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Structure: Microcrystalline quartz, Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.9
- Hardness
- 6
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs), Color: Red and gray/white mottling, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Structure: Microcrystalline quartz, Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.9
Formation & geological history
Formed when microcrystalline quartz (jasper) is broken through tectonic activity and then reheated or cemented together by silica-rich fluids. Often dating back to the Precambrian or Paleozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used primarily for lapidary work, jewelry, decorative tumbled stones, and as a metaphysical 'grounding' stone.
Geological facts
The name 'Jasper' is derived from the Greek word 'iaspis', meaning 'spotted stone'. Brecciated varieties contain dark streaks of hematite which give it its distinctive red color.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its opacity, hardness (will scratch glass), and mottled or 'broken' patterns. Commonly found in riverbeds and desert environments globally, notably South Africa and the USA.
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