sedimentary
Imperial Jasper
Microcrystalline Quartz (Chalcedony), SiO2
Hardness: 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Multi-colored with distinct bands and patterns, often featuring greens, browns, pinks, and creams; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.58-2.91
- Hardness
- 6
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Multi-colored with distinct bands and patterns, often featuring greens, browns, pinks, and creams; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.58-2.91
Formation & geological history
Formed in sedimentary environments through the silica-rich hydrothermal alteration or deposition in volcanic ash beds, often dating from the Cretaceous period.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in lapidary arts, making cabochons for jewelry, decorative objects, and as a popular collector's specimen.
Geological facts
Imperial jasper is known for its picturesque landscape-like patterns and is mined primarily from remote mountainous regions in Mexico.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its fine-grained texture, hardness, waxy luster, and distinctive multicolored banding. Found globally in sedimentary deposits and hydrothermal veins.
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