sedimentary
Chert (Jasper variation)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 6.5-7 Mohs; Color: reddish-brown with white quartz veining; Luster: waxy to dull; Crystal structure: cryptocrystalline; Cleavage: none, conchoidal fracture.
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- reddish-brown with white quartz veining
- Luster
- waxy to dull
Identified More sedimentary →
Explore Chert (Jasper variation) in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs; Color: reddish-brown with white quartz veining; Luster: waxy to dull; Crystal structure: cryptocrystalline; Cleavage: none, conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation of silica-rich microfossils or chemical precipitation in marine or volcanic environments, often during the Paleozoic era.
Uses & applications
Historical use for stone tools/arrowheads; contemporary use in landscaping, decorative stone, and occasionally lapidary craft.
Geological facts
The reddish color is typically caused by iron oxide impurities. It is very resistant to physical weathering and chemical erosion.
Field identification & locations
Look for a microcrystalline texture, conchoidal fracture patterns, and its ability to scratch glass. Found in riverbeds and sedimentary basins worldwide.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Fossiliferous Sedimentary Rock
Sedimentary limestone with invertebrate fossil imprint
fossil
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite
sedimentary
Quartz pebble
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
sedimentary
Shale
Shale (clastic sedimentary rock)
sedimentary
Shale (or Mudstone/Siltstone)
Sedimentary Mudrock (SiO2, Al2O3 base with clay minerals)
sedimentary